Professional education for the Austrian army's NCOs

The united states Navy "SeaBee" Naval Construction Battallion as model for the Austrian Bundesheer

Taking a naval unit as role model for a landlocked country's army may seem weird, but is in fact a new perspective to the incident-stroken forces.

The Battalion was established 1942 to fullfill the building needs of the Navy during the second world war. It focused on experience and skills of their members, so nearly all of them had a handicraft education before.

Having a soldier who is experienced in a handicraft job has many advantages:
- there is no need for extra engineer platoons or companies
- in case of natural disasters, accidents or even terrorist attacks the cooperation with civil aid organizations is easier
- people leaving the army due to budget reductions or other reasons have more chances of finding new jobs than people who were only trained as soldiers.

Due to the Austrian education system, everybody should have a chance to finish a on-the-job education, called "Lehre", and be a journeyman.
Nevertheless there are people who just finished the mandatory school and enter the army without further education.

Regarding the fact that the army already takes apprentices, it seems practical to extend this possibility to soldiers in activy duty. Like the already existing rule of having non-commisioned officers to be "Diplom Gesundheits- und KrankenpflegerIn" (licensed nurse or male nurse) to work in the combat medics company or battalion, there could be a rule for higher NCO's to have a second education other than military training.

Investment in in education is an investment in skills as much as in image.