Theoretical basis for improving the career growth of military personnel of the security and defence forces of Ukraine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33405/2786-8613/2025/2/6/350831Keywords:
career growth, state security, military personnel, security and defence forces, armed aggression, professional development, military leadership, military educationAbstract
The article provides a comprehensive theoretical and methodological analysis of the problem of improving the career growth of military personnel of the Security and Defence Forces of Ukraine under conditions of prolonged armed aggression by the Russian Federation and the operation of the legal regime of martial law. It substantiates that the career growth of military personnel should be considered not only as an individual process of service advancement but as a systemic and continuous process of professional, managerial, and personal development that directly affects personnel security, institutional resilience, and the state’s capacity to ensure national and state security.
Based on an analysis of contemporary scientific approaches as well as the current regulatory and legal framework governing military service and military education, key problems in the functioning of the career growth system for military personnel have been identified, including its fragmented nature, the dominance of formalised criteria for promotion, an insufficient level of transparency in personnel procedures, and the limited integration of educational and professional training outcomes into personnel decision-making processes. It is emphasised that under conditions of martial law these problems become particularly relevant and may negatively affect the effectiveness of task performance by the Security and Defence Forces of Ukraine.
Special attention is devoted to substantiating the role of professional development, the system of Professional Military Education, and military leadership as key factors in shaping effective career trajectories for military personnel. The importance of the principles of meritocracy, systemic coherence, continuity of education, institutional responsibility, and compliance with Euro-Atlantic standards of human resource management in the Security and Defence Forces of Ukraine is highlighted. It is proven that improving career growth should be regarded as a strategic direction of state personnel policy aimed at preserving and developing human potential, forming a managerial reserve, and enhancing the effectiveness of the Security and Defence Forces of Ukraine in the face of contemporary security challenges.
References
Reznikova O. O. (2022). Stratehichnyi analiz bezpekovoho seredovyshcha Ukrainy [Strategic analysis of Ukraine’s security environment]. Stratehichna panorama, special issue, pp. 45–53 [in Ukrainian].
Ukaz Prezydenta Ukrainy “Pro vvedennia voiennoho stanu v Ukraini” № 64/2022 [Decree of the President of Ukraine on the introduction of martial law in Ukraine activity no. 64/2022]. (2022, February 24). Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/64/2022#Text (accessed 15 November 2025) [in Ukrainian].
Zakon Ukrainy “Pro pravovyi rezhym voiennoho stanu” № 389-VIII [Law of Ukraine on the legal regime of martial law activity no. 389-VIII]. (2015, May 12). Vidomosti Verkhovnoyi Rady Ukrayiny, no. 28, art. 250 [in Ukrainian].
Zakon Ukrainy “Pro natsionalnu bezpeku Ukrainy” № 2469-VIII [Law of Ukraine on national security of Ukraine activity no. 2469-VIII]. (2018, June 21). Vidomosti Verkhovnoyi Rady Ukrayiny, no. 31, art. 241 [in Ukrainian].
Ukaz Prezydenta Ukrainy “Pro Kompleksnyi stratehichnyi plan reformuvannia orhaniv pravoporiadku yak chastyny sektoru bezpeky i oborony Ukrainy na 2023–2027 roky” № 273/2023 [Decree of the President of Ukraine on the Comprehensive Strategic Plan for reforming law enforcement bodies as part of the security and defense sector of Ukraine for 2023–2027 activity no. 273/2023]. (2023, May 11). Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/273/2023#Text (accessed 9 January 2026) [in Ukrainian].
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization : website. Retrieved from: https://www.nato.int/en (accessed 15 November 2025) [in English].
Ukaz Prezydenta Ukrainy Pro rishennia Rady natsionalnoi bezpeky i oborony Ukrainy vid 30 hrudnia 2021 roku “Pro Stratehiiu zabezpechennia derzhavnoi bezpeky” № 56/2022 [Decree of the President of Ukraine on the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine of 30 December 2021 “On the Strategy for Ensuring State Security” activity no. 56/2022]. (2022, February 16). Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/56/2022#n5 (accessed 15 November 2025) [in Ukrainian].
Kryshtanovych M. F., Pushak Ya. Ya., Fleichuk M. I., Franchuk V. I. (2020). Derzhavna polityka zabezpechennia natsionalnoi bezpeky Ukrainy: osnovni napriamky ta osoblyvosti zdiisnennia [State policy of ensuring national security of Ukraine: main directions and implementation features]: monohrafiia. Lviv: Spolom [in Ukrainian].
Reznikova O. O. (2022). Natsionalna stiikist v umovakh minlyvoho bezpekovoho seredovyshcha [National resilience in a changing security environment]: monohrafiia. Kyiv: NISD [in Ukrainian].
Sahaniuk F. V., Frolov V. S., Pavlenko V. I., et al. (2018). Sektor bezpeky i oborony Ukrainy: stratehichne kerivnytstvo ta viiskove upravlinnia [Security and defense sector of Ukraine: strategic leadership and military management]: monohrafiia. Kyiv: TsZ MO ta HSh ZS Ukrainy [in Ukrainian].
Bielai S. V., Buriak I. O. (2024). Teoretychni zasady vdoskonalennia kariernoho zrostannia viiskovosluzhbovtsiv Natsionalnoi hvardii Ukrainy [Theoretical foundations for improving career advancement of servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine]. Chest i zakon, no. 2 (89), pp. 14–20 [in Ukrainian].
Kapliuchenko O. P., Prykhodko I. I. (2020). Osnovni faktory vplyvu ekstremalnykh umov sluzhbovo-boiovoi diialnosti na motyvatsiinu skladovu moralno-psykholohichnoho stanu viiskovosluzhbovtsiv Natsionalnoi hvardii Ukrainy [Key factors of the impact of extreme conditions of service-combat activity on the motivational component of the moral and psychological state of servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine]. Chest i zakon, no. 3, pp. 27–35 [in Ukrainian].
Kapliuchenko O. P., Tovma M. I. (2022). Zalezhnist motyvatsii viiskovosluzhbovtsiv Natsionalnoi hvardii Ukrainy vid rivnia efektyvnosti sluzhbovo-boiovoi diialnosti ta dosvidu uchasti u boiovykh diiakh [Dependence of the motivation of servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine on the effectiveness of service-combat activity and combat experience]. Chest i zakon, no. 1, pp. 102–108 [in Ukrainian].
Hrydchyna V. (2024). Vprovadzhennia standartiv NATO u viiskovu osvitu [Implementation of NATO standards in military education]. Visnyk Kyivskoho natsionalnoho universytetu imeni Tarasa Shevchenka. Viiskovo-spetsialni nauky, vol. 4, pp. 5–9 [in Ukrainian].
Zhyzdiuk H. A. (2024). Adaptatsiia viiskovoi osvity v Ukraini do standartiv NATO: vyklyky ta perspektyvy [Adaptation of military education in Ukraine to NATO standards: challenges and prospects]. Akademichni vizii, vol. 29, pp. 1–12 [in Ukrainian].
Poltorak S. T. (2018). Transformatsiia systemy viiskovoi osvity Ukrainy na shliakhu do dosiahnennia standartiv NATO [Transformation of Ukraine’s military education system on the path to achieving NATO standards]. Nauka i oborona, no. 2, pp. 3–10 [in Ukrainian].
Postanova Kabinetu Ministriv Ukrainy “Pro transformatsiiu systemy viiskovoi osvity” № 1410 (u redaktsii postanovy Kabinetu Ministriv Ukrainy vid 30.12.2022 № 1490) [Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On the transformation of the military education system” no. 1410 (as amended by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of 30 December 2022 no. 1490)]. (1997, December 15). Retrieved from: https://surl.lu/yvrtlk (accessed 15 November 2025) [in Ukrainian].
Karpenko V. (2023). Vyznachennia pokaznykiv otsinky yakosti profesiinoi viiskovoi osvity u konteksti zabezpechennia yakosti osvity [Defining indicators for assessing the quality of professional military education in the context of quality assurance in education]. Viiskova osvita, no. 2 (48), pp. 89–96 [in Ukrainian].
Penkova N. Ye., Yushkevych V. V. (2025). Rozvytok liderskykh kompetentnostei u viiskovosluzhbovtsiv Natsionalnoi hvardii Ukrainy: natsionalnyi i mizhnarodnyi dosvid [Development of leadership competencies of servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine: national and international experience]. Habitus, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 131–138 [in Ukrainian].
Perepelytsia I. O. (2023). Typolohiia profesiinoi motyvatsii viiskovosluzhbovtsiv yak obiektiv viiskovoho liderstva [Typology of professional motivation of servicemen as objects of military leadership]. Habitus, vol. 56, pp. 245–250 [in Ukrainian].
Nakaz nachalnyka Heneralnoho shtabu Zbroinykh Syl Ukrainy “Doktryna rozvytku viiskovoho liderstva u Zbroinykh Sylakh Ukrainy” № 369 [Order of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine “Doctrine for the development of military leadership in the Armed Forces of Ukraine” activity no. 369]. (2024, January 22). Retrieved from: https://surl.li/vjadyb (accessed 15 November 2025) [in Ukrainian].
Nakaz komanduvacha Natsionalnoi hvardii Ukrainy “Doktryna z viiskovoho liderstva v Natsionalnii hvardii Ukrainy” № 450 [Order of the Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine “Doctrine on military leadership in the National Guard of Ukraine” activity no. 450]. (2022, December 6). Retrieved from: https://surl.li/vtvbec (accessed 15 November 2025) [in Ukrainian].
