主要任(ren)務是:運用各(ge)種通信(xin)(xin)裝備和(he)(he)通信(xin)(xin)設施,保障軍(jun)(jun)隊指揮(hui)和(he)(he)武器控制(zhi)的(de)通信(xin)(xin)聯絡,組織實(shi)施無線(xian)電通信(xin)(xin)對抗、航(hang)空(kong)兵(bing)導航(hang)和(he)(he)野戰軍(jun)(jun)郵等。通信(xin)(xin)兵(bing)對保障軍(jun)(jun)隊指揮(hui)和(he)(he)完成(cheng)各(ge)項任(ren)務具有重大作用。自有戰爭起,就有傳(chuan)遞軍(jun)(jun)情的(de)活動,并逐漸(jian)有了專門負(fu)責(ze)傳(chuan)遞軍(jun)(jun)事信(xin)(xin)息(xi)的(de)人(ren)員和(he)(he)機構。
在中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo),商朝已有_(傳車)傳。西周,初期有驛站,后期出現了烽(feng)(feng)(feng)燧報警系統(tong)。春秋(qiu)戰國(guo)時期,有的諸(zhu)侯(hou)國(guo)還把烽(feng)(feng)(feng)火臺改為邊亭。秦朝,繼承了烽(feng)(feng)(feng)郵共存(cun)的體制,中(zhong)(zhong)央由丞相總管,地(di)方由郡守、縣令兼管。
西(xi)漢,沿襲秦的郵(you)(you)驛(yi)(yi)(yi)體制(zhi)。東漢,郵(you)(you)驛(yi)(yi)(yi)由(you)太尉府(fu)的法曹主管。唐朝,郵(you)(you)驛(yi)(yi)(yi)由(you)尚書(shu)省(sheng)的兵(bing)部管理,各府(fu)、州(zhou)、縣由(you)兵(bing)曹參軍、司(si)兵(bing)參軍和司(si)兵(bing)分掌郵(you)(you)驛(yi)(yi)(yi);全國要道設郵(you)(you)驛(yi)(yi)(yi),每(mei)驛(yi)(yi)(yi)設驛(yi)(yi)(yi)長一(yi)人,驛(yi)(yi)(yi)夫數人;邊(bian)境設烽火(huo)臺。北宋(song),建有一(yi)套健全的遞(di)鋪(pu)通信組織,分步遞(di)、馬遞(di)、急(ji)腳(jiao)遞(di)三種,驛(yi)(yi)(yi)卒由(you)廂兵(bing)擔任。
元朝(chao),郵驛由兵部和通政院管(guan)理;急(ji)遞鋪(pu)與驛站(zhan)并行,是專(zhuan)司傳送官方文書的通信組織(zhi)。
明(ming)朝,中央管理郵(you)驛的機關為兵部車駕清吏(li)司和通政司;急遞鋪(pu)沿襲元制,每鋪(pu)設鋪(pu)長一名(ming),鋪(pu)兵數名(ming)。
清朝,郵驛由(you)驛、站(zhan)、塘、臺(tai)、所、鋪六(liu)種(zhong)組織(zhi)形(xing)式構成,其中站(zhan)、塘、臺(tai)由(you)軍卒充(chong)役,以傳遞軍情為首要任務。
隨(sui)著電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)信(xin)的發(fa)展(zhan),1905年新軍(jun)(jun)、海(hai)(hai)軍(jun)(jun)分別在北京(jing)、天(tian)津、保定(ding)等行營(ying)(ying)及(ji)海(hai)(hai)圻、海(hai)(hai)容、海(hai)(hai)籌、海(hai)(hai)琛4艦(jian)建立(li)無(wu)(wu)線(xian)(xian)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)臺。1906年于天(tian)津小(xiao)站舊營(ying)(ying)開(kai)辦(ban)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)信(xin)學隊(dui)(dui)(dui),繼之在北洋常(chang)備(bei)軍(jun)(jun)中(zhong)編(bian)(bian)設電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)信(xin)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)。1926年,國(guo)(guo)民(min)革命軍(jun)(jun)北伐時,獨立(li)旅和(he)(he)師以上部隊(dui)(dui)(dui)編(bian)(bian)有(you)無(wu)(wu)線(xian)(xian)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)分隊(dui)(dui)(dui)。1927年,國(guo)(guo)民(min)黨(dang)軍(jun)(jun)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)在團以上部隊(dui)(dui)(dui)編(bian)(bian)有(you)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)。1928年,國(guo)(guo)民(min)黨(dang)軍(jun)(jun)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)成(cheng)(cheng)立(li)交(jiao)(jiao)通(tong)(tong)(tong)兵團,其中(zhong)編(bian)(bian)有(you)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)。至1935年,通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)兵成(cheng)(cheng)為兵種。中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)人民(min)解放軍(jun)(jun)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)兵是在革命戰爭中(zhong)誕生和(he)(he)發(fa)展(zhan)起來的。1927年8月1日,南昌起義部隊(dui)(dui)(dui)中(zhong)編(bian)(bian)有(you)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)分隊(dui)(dui)(dui)。1928年,中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)共產黨(dang)中(zhong)央軍(jun)(jun)事(shi)部設立(li)交(jiao)(jiao)通(tong)(tong)(tong)科,開(kai)始培訓無(wu)(wu)線(xian)(xian)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)人員,而(er)后陸續派往各蘇區(qu)。1929年,中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)工農紅軍(jun)(jun)第4軍(jun)(jun)軍(jun)(jun)部及(ji)其下屬(shu)縱隊(dui)(dui)(dui)司令部設立(li)交(jiao)(jiao)通(tong)(tong)(tong)大隊(dui)(dui)(dui),擔(dan)負軍(jun)(jun)事(shi)交(jiao)(jiao)通(tong)(tong)(tong)和(he)(he)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)任務。1931年1月,中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)工農紅軍(jun)(jun)成(cheng)(cheng)立(li)第一(yi)個無(wu)(wu)線(xian)(xian)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)隊(dui)(dui)(dui),繼而(er)開(kai)辦(ban)第一(yi)期無(wu)(wu)線(xian)(xian)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)訓練(lian)班,后來發(fa)展(zhan)成(cheng)(cheng)為包括無(wu)(wu)線(xian)(xian)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)、有(you)線(xian)(xian)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)和(he)(he)簡易信(xin)號(hao)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)等專業的紅軍(jun)(jun)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)學校。
1934年1月(yue),中華蘇維埃共和國中央革命軍事委(wei)員會總(zong)參謀部(bu)(bu)(bu)成立(li)(li)(li)通(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)局,主(zhu)(zhu)管紅(hong)軍通(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)工作(zuo)。紅(hong)一方(fang)面軍團以上部(bu)(bu)(bu)隊設有(you)(you)通(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)主(zhu)(zhu)任,紅(hong)軍第2、第6軍團設有(you)(you)通(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)科(ke),紅(hong)四方(fang)面軍設有(you)(you)電務處。各方(fang)面軍都編有(you)(you)無線(xian)電大(da)隊或(huo)分隊(電臺)。抗日戰爭時(shi)期(qi),八路(lu)軍、新四軍的營以上部(bu)(bu)(bu)隊編有(you)(you)運動通(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)和簡(jian)易信(xin)(xin)(xin)號通(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)分隊,旅以上部(bu)(bu)(bu)隊和部(bu)(bu)(bu)分團建(jian)立(li)(li)(li)通(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)業(ye)務部(bu)(bu)(bu)門及有(you)(you)線(xian)電、無線(xian)電通(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)分隊。解(jie)放戰爭時(shi)期(qi),軍區和野戰軍以下各級司令(ling)部(bu)(bu)(bu)分別設立(li)(li)(li)通(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)處(分局)、科(ke)、股,團以上部(bu)(bu)(bu)隊普遍建(jian)立(li)(li)(li)有(you)(you)線(xian)電、無線(xian)電通(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)分隊。
中(zhong)華(hua)人(ren)(ren)民共(gong)和(he)國成(cheng)立(li)后(hou),通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)兵進入一個新(xin)的(de)發(fa)展階段,健全(quan)了各(ge)級領導機構(gou),擴(kuo)建(jian)(jian)了部(bu)(bu)隊。1950年5月,中(zhong)央人(ren)(ren)民政府人(ren)(ren)民革(ge)命軍(jun)(jun)事委員(yuan)會設(she)(she)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)部(bu)(bu),各(ge)軍(jun)(jun)區(qu)、軍(jun)(jun)種、兵種司(si)令(ling)部(bu)(bu)設(she)(she)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)處。同年10月,組(zu)建(jian)(jian)華(hua)北軍(jun)(jun)區(qu)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)團。至1953年,各(ge)軍(jun)(jun)區(qu)和(he)軍(jun)(jun)委通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)部(bu)(bu)先后(hou)組(zu)建(jian)(jian)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)團。1954年3月,統一了全(quan)軍(jun)(jun)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)部(bu)(bu)隊的(de)編(bian)制(zhi)。同時,擴(kuo)建(jian)(jian)了通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)院校,設(she)(she)立(li)軍(jun)(jun)事通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)科學研究、技(ji)術保障以及通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)軍(jun)(jun)工生產管理機構(gou)等。1956年4月,通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)部(bu)(bu)改為中(zhong)國人(ren)(ren)民解(jie)放(fang)軍(jun)(jun)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)兵部(bu)(bu),成(cheng)為獨立(li)的(de)兵種。此后(hou),通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)兵的(de)體制(zhi)編(bian)制(zhi)幾經(jing)調(diao)整。1975年,兵種領導機關(guan)改稱總參謀部(bu)(bu)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)部(bu)(bu)。
隨(sui)著通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)技術的(de)發展和通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)任務(wu)的(de)加重,70年代(dai)組(zu)建(jian)軍(jun)用衛星通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)地球站,80年代(dai)組(zu)建(jian)指(zhi)(zhi)揮(hui)自(zi)動化工作站。之(zhi)后,通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)兵不(bu)斷加強(qiang)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)用信(xin)息(xi)傳輸(shu)平(ping)臺、處理平(ping)臺和指(zhi)(zhi)揮(hui)控制系(xi)統、頻譜管理系(xi)統建(jian)設(she),基本(ben)形成平(ping)戰結(jie)合、軍(jun)民(min)結(jie)合、有線電與無線電結(jie)合、機動與固定結(jie)合的(de)綜合軍(jun)事通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)系(xi)統,保障(zhang)了(le)軍(jun)隊平(ping)時活動和戰時指(zhi)(zhi)揮(hui)控制的(de)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)聯(lian)絡。世界其他國家(jia)軍(jun)隊都編有通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)兵。
俄國軍隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)于(yu)1851年(nian)建(jian)立通信(xin)分隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui),1890年(nian)有(you)了(le)電(dian)(dian)報(bao)(bao)縱(zong)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui),1894年(nian)電(dian)(dian)報(bao)(bao)縱(zong)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)改組(zu)成集團軍和軍的(de)(de)電(dian)(dian)報(bao)(bao)連(lian),1899年(nian)組(zu)建(jian)無線電(dian)(dian)通信(xin)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)。美國軍隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)于(yu)19世紀60年(nian)代建(jian)立通信(xin)兵(bing)(bing)。法國軍隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)于(yu)19世紀中(zhong)葉組(zu)建(jian)用于(yu)信(xin)差勤務的(de)(de)步兵(bing)(bing)與騎兵(bing)(bing)聯(lian)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui),1870年(nian)組(zu)建(jian)一(yi)個電(dian)(dian)報(bao)(bao)連(lian),后來建(jian)立電(dian)(dian)報(bao)(bao)縱(zong)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui),1917年(nian)起師以上各級部(bu)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)都設(she)有(you)電(dian)(dian)報(bao)(bao)和無線電(dian)(dian)通信(xin)分隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)。英國軍隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)的(de)(de)通信(xin)兵(bing)(bing)部(bu)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)原屬(shu)工(gong)程兵(bing)(bing)建(jian)制,1920年(nian)成為(wei)獨立的(de)(de)兵(bing)(bing)種(zhong)。
隨著戰爭(zheng)的(de)(de)發展、軍(jun)(jun)隊(dui)規模的(de)(de)擴大,各國(guo)軍(jun)(jun)隊(dui)不斷加強通(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)兵建(jian)設,其(qi)體制編制日益(yi)完善,通(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)保(bao)障能力(li)不斷提(ti)高。隨著裝(zhuang)備(bei)和通(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)技(ji)(ji)術的(de)(de)發展,許多國(guo)家軍(jun)(jun)隊(dui)將根(gen)據(ju)本(ben)國(guo)實際(ji)情(qing)(qing)況,不斷更新通(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)技(ji)(ji)術裝(zhuang)備(bei),調整通(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)兵體制編制,發展軍(jun)(jun)隊(dui)指揮信(xin)(xin)(xin)息(xi)系(xi)統(tong)(tong),以(yi)提(ti)高快速(su)反(fan)應能力(li)、協同(tong)通(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)能力(li)、戰場生存(cun)能力(li)、通(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)對(dui)抗(kang)能力(li)、通(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)保(bao)密能力(li),增強軍(jun)(jun)事通(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)系(xi)統(tong)(tong)與裝(zhuang)備(bei)、作戰指揮、情(qing)(qing)報處理、電子對(dui)抗(kang)系(xi)統(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)有機結合,以(yi)適應信(xin)(xin)(xin)息(xi)化局部(bu)戰爭(zheng)對(dui)通(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)保(bao)障的(de)(de)要(yao)求。