Abstract:

Strong leadership in the scientific literature is often seen as one of the most important elements for the successful and efficient operation of organizations or groups. It helps not only to formulate operational ambitious, visions and goals, to identify activity directions, to strengthen personnel motivation (Šimauskienė, et al., 2021) but also to promote continuous progress and innovation (Bason, 2018).

Military leadership is no exception (Muchiri el al., 2020), therefore, future military officers must have exclusive competencies for leaders. After graduating military academy, students (cadets) immediately take up leadership positions in the Lithuanian Armed Forces, therefore it is necessary that they have not only theoretical knowledge, but also well-developed leadership competencies.

For this reason, a consistent and systematic leadership development process is being implemented in the Military Academy of Lithuania. Leadership competencies are formed by consistently combining theory with practice. Cadets’ practical leadership and managerial skills and behaviors are shaped using an experiential learning strategy on the basis of which the cadets during the studies are already appointed to the leading positions in the Cadet Battalion. Such a model contributes to a better understanding of the specifics of professional military service, encourages the development of personal leadership, people-centered leadership, team leadership, and other competencies that will be required for further military service (LKA, 2022).

This paper using document analysis and feedback data aims to introduce the concept of leadership development in the Military Academy of Lithuania, to highlight the advantages and limitations of experiential learning, to discuss the learning environment and the methodology of result assessment (e.g. application of 360 assessment and other methods). The guidelines on how experiential learning can be applied in civilian universities to develop leadership and other competencies are also provide.

Keywords:

Experiential learning, leadership competencies, Military Academy of Lithuania.