Czech Military Deployment During COVID-19: Soldiers´ Experience and the Perspectives of Organisations

This article examines the domestic deployment of the Czech Armed Forces during the COVID-19 pandemic, analysing both institutional and individual dimensions of military assistance to civil authorities. Drawing on two empirical surveys—one administered to deployed soldiers and another to representati...

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Main Authors: Jitka Laštovková, Eva Pavlíková, Václav Kmoníček
Format: Article
Language:ces
Published: University of Defence 2025-06-01
Series:Obrana a Strategie
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.obranaastrategie.cz/en/archive/volume-2025/1-2025/articles/czech-military-deployment-during-covid-19.html
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author Jitka Laštovková
Eva Pavlíková
Václav Kmoníček
author_facet Jitka Laštovková
Eva Pavlíková
Václav Kmoníček
author_sort Jitka Laštovková
collection DOAJ
description This article examines the domestic deployment of the Czech Armed Forces during the COVID-19 pandemic, analysing both institutional and individual dimensions of military assistance to civil authorities. Drawing on two empirical surveys—one administered to deployed soldiers and another to representatives of beneficiary institutions—the study explores perceptions of operational effectiveness, interagency coordination, and public trust. Czech soldiers were critical in providing logistical and medical support, maintaining internal security, and assisting with strategic planning. Deployed personnel reported significant personal and professional development, while beneficiary institutions emphasised the military’s adaptability and responsiveness. Although challenges in coordination and communication emerged, the military’s contribution was widely regarded as indispensable. The results underscore the evolving role of armed forces in non-traditional security contexts, contributing to broader debates on civil–military relations, crisis governance, and the militarisation of public health responses.
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issn 1214-6463
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language ces
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher University of Defence
record_format Article
series Obrana a Strategie
spelling doaj-art-4f160f37e0e74728a2cce02562fe32862025-08-20T03:31:14ZcesUniversity of DefenceObrana a Strategie1214-64631802-71992025-06-01251147162https://doi.org/10.3849/1802-7199.25.2025.01.147-162Czech Military Deployment During COVID-19: Soldiers´ Experience and the Perspectives of OrganisationsJitka Laštovková0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5798-052XEva Pavlíková1https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4894-3507Václav Kmoníček2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8692-5279Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, J. E. Purkyně University, Ústí and Labem, Czech RepublicCzech Armed Forces, Czech RepublicFaculty of Arts, Charles University, Czech Republic, PragueThis article examines the domestic deployment of the Czech Armed Forces during the COVID-19 pandemic, analysing both institutional and individual dimensions of military assistance to civil authorities. Drawing on two empirical surveys—one administered to deployed soldiers and another to representatives of beneficiary institutions—the study explores perceptions of operational effectiveness, interagency coordination, and public trust. Czech soldiers were critical in providing logistical and medical support, maintaining internal security, and assisting with strategic planning. Deployed personnel reported significant personal and professional development, while beneficiary institutions emphasised the military’s adaptability and responsiveness. Although challenges in coordination and communication emerged, the military’s contribution was widely regarded as indispensable. The results underscore the evolving role of armed forces in non-traditional security contexts, contributing to broader debates on civil–military relations, crisis governance, and the militarisation of public health responses.https://www.obranaastrategie.cz/en/archive/volume-2025/1-2025/articles/czech-military-deployment-during-covid-19.htmlczech armed forces; covid-19 pandemic; civil–military relations; domestic deployment; soldiers´ experience.
spellingShingle Jitka Laštovková
Eva Pavlíková
Václav Kmoníček
Czech Military Deployment During COVID-19: Soldiers´ Experience and the Perspectives of Organisations
Obrana a Strategie
czech armed forces; covid-19 pandemic; civil–military relations; domestic deployment; soldiers´ experience.
title Czech Military Deployment During COVID-19: Soldiers´ Experience and the Perspectives of Organisations
title_full Czech Military Deployment During COVID-19: Soldiers´ Experience and the Perspectives of Organisations
title_fullStr Czech Military Deployment During COVID-19: Soldiers´ Experience and the Perspectives of Organisations
title_full_unstemmed Czech Military Deployment During COVID-19: Soldiers´ Experience and the Perspectives of Organisations
title_short Czech Military Deployment During COVID-19: Soldiers´ Experience and the Perspectives of Organisations
title_sort czech military deployment during covid 19 soldiers´ experience and the perspectives of organisations
topic czech armed forces; covid-19 pandemic; civil–military relations; domestic deployment; soldiers´ experience.
url https://www.obranaastrategie.cz/en/archive/volume-2025/1-2025/articles/czech-military-deployment-during-covid-19.html
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