EVOLUTION OF VIEWS ON THE INTELLECTUAL TRAINING OF FUTURE AIR ASSAULT FORCES OFFICERS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE TRANSFORMATION OF EDUCATIONAL PARADIGMS

Abstract

The article analyzes the transformation of approaches to the intellectual training of future officers of the Air Assault Forces (AAF) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). The relevance of the study is determined by the nature of modern combat operations in the Russian-Ukrainian war, where a commander’s ability to think critically, rapidly analyze a dynamic operational environment, and make non-standard tactical decisions becomes a decisive factor in gaining an advantage over the enemy.
The purpose of the study is to provide a theoretical substantiation of a new paradigm for the intellectual training of AAF officers, to clarify the essence of the concept of «intellectual learning», and to determine the mechanisms for implementing relevant NATO standards (in particular, TLP and MDMP) into the national system of military education. The research employs a set of complementary scientific methods, including retrospective analysis, a system-structural approach, comparative analysis, as well as generalization and interpretation of scientific sources.
The evolution of educational paradigms in the system of military education is generalized in the context of contemporary transformational processes, within which the transition from the authoritarian reproductive model of the Soviet type to a modern competence-based system is analyzed, taking into account the dynamics of changes in the security environment. The post-Soviet stage of military education development is highlighted as a period characterized by the inertial preservation of outdated approaches, which resulted in an efficiency crisis of officer training under real combat conditions. It is substantiated that the current stage of military education development is associated with a transition to a competence-oriented model, the core of which is the formation of the ability for intellectual learning as a key professional quality of an air assault officer.
The scientific novelty of the study lies in the conceptualization of the author’s definition of «intellectual learning» as a purposeful and continuous process of transforming an individual’s cognitive potential (attention, memory, critical thinking, cognitive flexibility) into a stable professional capability to act effectively in combat conditions. An approach to integrating intelligence, emotional intelligence, and practical skills into a unified functional system of military leader training is proposed.
The practical significance of the obtained results consists in identifying priority directions for the modernization of the educational process in higher military educational institutions (HMEI), including the of problem-based learning, simulation technologies (VR/AR), the development of critical thinking, as well as the transformation of the instructor’s role into that of a mentor with combat experience. The results obtained can be used in the development of educational programs for AAF officers, the improvement of training methodologies, and the formation of a modern model of military education focused on training an intellectually autonomous commander.

Received: November 27, 2025
Accepted: December 18, 2025
Published: January 16, 2026