Page 92 - MDSL Final

MARITIME DOCTRINE OF SRI LANKA
the decisive edge. The core strength of the armed forces is the human
resource; the officers, men and women. It is essential that we invest in
our people to ensure there are sufficient numbers who are capable and
motivated. A sustainable workforce demands investment in recruiting,
developing and retaining high-quality personnel. As a consequence, the
need to recruit the right quantity with requisite level of quality, pre/post
induction training and subsequent retention assume importance for
military planners. The human resource of SLN is sourced from a cross-
section of the Sri Lanka populace and from varying socio-economic
backgrounds. The selection process of SLN ensures the selected
personnel have the requisite physical, mental and intellectual potential.

Human capability needs to be regarded as a key resource and should be
fully integrated into defence planning. SLN, apart from contributing to
Defence and Security also provides a distinctive strand in the multi-hued
fabric of our nation through high standards of integrity, professionalism
and excellence. Rather than simply relying on fire power and technical
capabilities, our commanders must seek out, develop and exploit human
qualities such as positive thinking, resilience, adaptability and empathy
to build the agility which Defence will need in the future operating
environment. Commanders should also be the champions of innovative
practices.

Manpower undoubtedly is the most expensive resource of an organisation
and it could be easily misused or underutilised, hence management and
controls are paramount.

The ability of an organisation to maintain the human resource highly
motivated and effective, largely dependent on providing opportunities
to each and every individual to develop fully, to utilise his/her abilities to
the full, and to find continuing job satisfaction. Development of human
resource, therefore, has to be a persistent process and continuous
professional development (CPD) can be considered as a means to
achieve the objective.

The next human component which is training which builds confidence to
fight and success at war. Training demands that the personnel inducted

74 To Nurture a Stable Environment at Sea