主要任(ren)務(wu)是:運(yun)用(yong)(yong)各(ge)種通(tong)信(xin)裝(zhuang)備和通(tong)信(xin)設施,保障(zhang)軍(jun)(jun)隊指揮(hui)和武器控(kong)制(zhi)的通(tong)信(xin)聯絡(luo),組(zu)織(zhi)實施無線電通(tong)信(xin)對(dui)抗(kang)、航空兵導航和野戰(zhan)軍(jun)(jun)郵等。通(tong)信(xin)兵對(dui)保障(zhang)軍(jun)(jun)隊指揮(hui)和完成各(ge)項任(ren)務(wu)具有(you)(you)重大作用(yong)(yong)。自有(you)(you)戰(zhan)爭起,就有(you)(you)傳遞軍(jun)(jun)情的活(huo)動,并(bing)逐漸有(you)(you)了(le)專門負(fu)責傳遞軍(jun)(jun)事(shi)信(xin)息的人員和機構。
在(zai)中(zhong)國,商朝(chao)已有(you)(you)_(傳車(che))傳。西周,初期(qi)有(you)(you)驛站,后期(qi)出現了烽燧報(bao)警系統。春秋戰(zhan)國時期(qi),有(you)(you)的諸侯國還把(ba)烽火(huo)臺改為邊亭。秦朝(chao),繼(ji)承(cheng)了烽郵共存(cun)的體(ti)制,中(zhong)央由(you)丞相總管,地(di)方(fang)由(you)郡守、縣令(ling)兼管。
西漢,沿(yan)襲秦的郵(you)(you)驛(yi)(yi)(yi)體制。東漢,郵(you)(you)驛(yi)(yi)(yi)由(you)(you)太(tai)尉府(fu)的法曹主管。唐朝(chao),郵(you)(you)驛(yi)(yi)(yi)由(you)(you)尚書省的兵部管理,各(ge)府(fu)、州(zhou)、縣由(you)(you)兵曹參軍、司兵參軍和司兵分(fen)掌郵(you)(you)驛(yi)(yi)(yi);全(quan)國(guo)要道(dao)設(she)郵(you)(you)驛(yi)(yi)(yi),每驛(yi)(yi)(yi)設(she)驛(yi)(yi)(yi)長一(yi)(yi)人,驛(yi)(yi)(yi)夫數人;邊境設(she)烽火臺。北宋,建有一(yi)(yi)套健(jian)全(quan)的遞(di)鋪通(tong)信組(zu)織,分(fen)步遞(di)、馬遞(di)、急腳遞(di)三種,驛(yi)(yi)(yi)卒由(you)(you)廂兵擔任。
元朝,郵驛由兵部和通(tong)(tong)政院管(guan)理(li);急遞鋪與驛站并行(xing),是專司傳送官方(fang)文書的通(tong)(tong)信組(zu)織。
明朝(chao),中央管理郵驛(yi)的機關為兵部車駕(jia)清(qing)吏司和(he)通政(zheng)司;急遞鋪沿襲元制,每(mei)鋪設鋪長一名,鋪兵數名。
清(qing)朝,郵驛由驛、站、塘、臺、所、鋪(pu)六種(zhong)組(zu)織形式構成(cheng),其中(zhong)站、塘、臺由軍卒充役,以(yi)傳遞軍情為首要任務。
隨著電(dian)信(xin)的發(fa)(fa)展,1905年(nian)(nian)新軍(jun)、海(hai)軍(jun)分(fen)別在(zai)北(bei)京、天津(jin)、保定等(deng)行營及海(hai)圻、海(hai)容、海(hai)籌、海(hai)琛(chen)4艦建(jian)立(li)無(wu)(wu)(wu)線電(dian)臺。1906年(nian)(nian)于(yu)天津(jin)小站舊營開(kai)辦電(dian)信(xin)學(xue)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui),繼(ji)之在(zai)北(bei)洋常(chang)備軍(jun)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)編設(she)電(dian)信(xin)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)。1926年(nian)(nian),國(guo)(guo)民革(ge)(ge)命軍(jun)北(bei)伐時,獨立(li)旅和師(shi)以(yi)上部(bu)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)編有(you)無(wu)(wu)(wu)線電(dian)通(tong)(tong)信(xin)分(fen)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)。1927年(nian)(nian),國(guo)(guo)民黨(dang)軍(jun)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)在(zai)團(tuan)(tuan)以(yi)上部(bu)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)編有(you)通(tong)(tong)信(xin)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)。1928年(nian)(nian),國(guo)(guo)民黨(dang)軍(jun)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)成立(li)交通(tong)(tong)兵團(tuan)(tuan),其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)編有(you)通(tong)(tong)信(xin)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)。至1935年(nian)(nian),通(tong)(tong)信(xin)兵成為(wei)兵種。中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)人(ren)民解放軍(jun)通(tong)(tong)信(xin)兵是(shi)在(zai)革(ge)(ge)命戰爭(zheng)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)誕(dan)生和發(fa)(fa)展起來(lai)的。1927年(nian)(nian)8月(yue)(yue)1日(ri),南(nan)昌起義(yi)部(bu)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)編有(you)通(tong)(tong)信(xin)分(fen)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)。1928年(nian)(nian),中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)共產黨(dang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)央軍(jun)事(shi)部(bu)設(she)立(li)交通(tong)(tong)科,開(kai)始培訓無(wu)(wu)(wu)線電(dian)通(tong)(tong)信(xin)人(ren)員(yuan),而后陸續派往各蘇(su)區。1929年(nian)(nian),中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)工(gong)農紅軍(jun)第4軍(jun)軍(jun)部(bu)及其下屬縱隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)司(si)令部(bu)設(she)立(li)交通(tong)(tong)大隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui),擔負軍(jun)事(shi)交通(tong)(tong)和通(tong)(tong)信(xin)任務。1931年(nian)(nian)1月(yue)(yue),中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)工(gong)農紅軍(jun)成立(li)第一(yi)個無(wu)(wu)(wu)線電(dian)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui),繼(ji)而開(kai)辦第一(yi)期無(wu)(wu)(wu)線電(dian)訓練(lian)班,后來(lai)發(fa)(fa)展成為(wei)包括無(wu)(wu)(wu)線電(dian)通(tong)(tong)信(xin)、有(you)線電(dian)通(tong)(tong)信(xin)和簡易(yi)信(xin)號(hao)通(tong)(tong)信(xin)等(deng)專業(ye)的紅軍(jun)通(tong)(tong)信(xin)學(xue)校。
1934年(nian)1月,中華蘇維埃共和(he)國中央革命軍(jun)(jun)事委(wei)員會總參謀部成(cheng)立(li)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)局(ju),主(zhu)管紅(hong)軍(jun)(jun)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)工作。紅(hong)一方面軍(jun)(jun)團(tuan)以(yi)上部隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)設(she)(she)有(you)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)主(zhu)任,紅(hong)軍(jun)(jun)第2、第6軍(jun)(jun)團(tuan)設(she)(she)有(you)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)科(ke),紅(hong)四方面軍(jun)(jun)設(she)(she)有(you)電務(wu)處(chu)。各(ge)方面軍(jun)(jun)都(dou)編有(you)無(wu)線電大隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)或(huo)分(fen)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)(電臺(tai))。抗(kang)日戰爭時(shi)期,八路軍(jun)(jun)、新四軍(jun)(jun)的營以(yi)上部隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)編有(you)運動通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)和(he)簡易信(xin)號通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)分(fen)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui),旅以(yi)上部隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)和(he)部分(fen)團(tuan)建(jian)(jian)立(li)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)業務(wu)部門及有(you)線電、無(wu)線電通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)分(fen)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)。解放戰爭時(shi)期,軍(jun)(jun)區和(he)野(ye)戰軍(jun)(jun)以(yi)下各(ge)級司令部分(fen)別設(she)(she)立(li)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)處(chu)(分(fen)局(ju))、科(ke)、股,團(tuan)以(yi)上部隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)普遍(bian)建(jian)(jian)立(li)有(you)線電、無(wu)線電通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)分(fen)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)。
中華(hua)人民(min)共和國成立后,通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)進入(ru)一個新的發展階(jie)段,健全了各(ge)(ge)(ge)級領(ling)導(dao)(dao)機構,擴建(jian)了部(bu)隊(dui)(dui)。1950年(nian)5月,中央人民(min)政府人民(min)革命(ming)軍(jun)事(shi)委(wei)(wei)員會(hui)設通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)部(bu),各(ge)(ge)(ge)軍(jun)區、軍(jun)種、兵(bing)(bing)(bing)種司令部(bu)設通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)處。同年(nian)10月,組建(jian)華(hua)北軍(jun)區通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)團。至1953年(nian),各(ge)(ge)(ge)軍(jun)區和軍(jun)委(wei)(wei)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)部(bu)先后組建(jian)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)團。1954年(nian)3月,統一了全軍(jun)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)部(bu)隊(dui)(dui)的編制(zhi)。同時,擴建(jian)了通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)院校,設立軍(jun)事(shi)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)科(ke)學研究、技術保障(zhang)以及(ji)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)軍(jun)工生產管理機構等(deng)。1956年(nian)4月,通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)部(bu)改為中國人民(min)解放(fang)軍(jun)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)部(bu),成為獨立的兵(bing)(bing)(bing)種。此后,通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)的體(ti)制(zhi)編制(zhi)幾經調整。1975年(nian),兵(bing)(bing)(bing)種領(ling)導(dao)(dao)機關改稱總參謀部(bu)通(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)部(bu)。
隨著通(tong)信技(ji)術的(de)發展和(he)(he)通(tong)信任務的(de)加(jia)重,70年(nian)代(dai)組建(jian)軍(jun)用(yong)衛星通(tong)信地球站(zhan)(zhan),80年(nian)代(dai)組建(jian)指(zhi)揮(hui)自動化工作站(zhan)(zhan)。之后(hou),通(tong)信兵不斷(duan)加(jia)強通(tong)用(yong)信息(xi)傳輸平臺、處理(li)平臺和(he)(he)指(zhi)揮(hui)控制系(xi)統(tong)(tong)、頻譜管(guan)理(li)系(xi)統(tong)(tong)建(jian)設(she),基本形(xing)成平戰(zhan)結(jie)合(he)、軍(jun)民結(jie)合(he)、有(you)線電與(yu)無線電結(jie)合(he)、機動與(yu)固定(ding)結(jie)合(he)的(de)綜合(he)軍(jun)事(shi)通(tong)信系(xi)統(tong)(tong),保(bao)障了軍(jun)隊平時活動和(he)(he)戰(zhan)時指(zhi)揮(hui)控制的(de)通(tong)信聯絡。世界其他(ta)國家軍(jun)隊都編(bian)有(you)通(tong)信兵。
俄國(guo)軍(jun)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)于(yu)1851年(nian)建(jian)立通(tong)信分隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui),1890年(nian)有了電(dian)(dian)報縱(zong)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui),1894年(nian)電(dian)(dian)報縱(zong)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)改(gai)組(zu)成集團軍(jun)和軍(jun)的電(dian)(dian)報連,1899年(nian)組(zu)建(jian)無線(xian)電(dian)(dian)通(tong)信隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)。美國(guo)軍(jun)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)于(yu)19世紀60年(nian)代建(jian)立通(tong)信兵(bing)(bing)。法國(guo)軍(jun)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)于(yu)19世紀中葉組(zu)建(jian)用于(yu)信差勤務的步(bu)兵(bing)(bing)與騎兵(bing)(bing)聯隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui),1870年(nian)組(zu)建(jian)一個電(dian)(dian)報連,后來建(jian)立電(dian)(dian)報縱(zong)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui),1917年(nian)起師以上(shang)各級部(bu)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)都設有電(dian)(dian)報和無線(xian)電(dian)(dian)通(tong)信分隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)。英國(guo)軍(jun)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)的通(tong)信兵(bing)(bing)部(bu)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)(dui)原屬(shu)工(gong)程(cheng)兵(bing)(bing)建(jian)制(zhi),1920年(nian)成為獨立的兵(bing)(bing)種。
隨著戰爭的(de)(de)發展(zhan)、軍(jun)隊(dui)規模的(de)(de)擴大(da),各國軍(jun)隊(dui)不斷(duan)加強通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)兵建設,其(qi)體(ti)制(zhi)編(bian)制(zhi)日益完善(shan),通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)保(bao)障(zhang)能力不斷(duan)提(ti)高(gao)。隨著裝備和通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)技術的(de)(de)發展(zhan),許(xu)多國家軍(jun)隊(dui)將根據本國實際情況,不斷(duan)更新通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)技術裝備,調整通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)兵體(ti)制(zhi)編(bian)制(zhi),發展(zhan)軍(jun)隊(dui)指(zhi)揮信(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)息(xi)系統,以提(ti)高(gao)快速反應能力、協同通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)能力、戰場(chang)生存能力、通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)對抗能力、通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)保(bao)密能力,增(zeng)強軍(jun)事通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)系統與裝備、作(zuo)戰指(zhi)揮、情報處理(li)、電子對抗系統的(de)(de)有機(ji)結合,以適應信(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)息(xi)化局部戰爭對通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)信(xin)(xin)(xin)(xin)保(bao)障(zhang)的(de)(de)要求。