MODELS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAINING FOR AIR ASSAULT UNITS: EXPERIENCE OF NATO MEMBER STATES AND PROSPECTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN UKRAINE
Abstract
The article presents a comparative analysis of psychological training models for airborne and air assault units in the member states of NATO and substantiates the prospects for their adaptation in Ukraine. It is argued that under the conditions of high-intensity modern armed conflicts, psychological resilience, cognitive flexibility, and self-regulation capacity constitute strategic components of combat effectiveness in high-risk units. The study examines key approaches implemented in the United States and the United Kingdom, where psychological training is integrated into combat training and leadership development systems, incorporates standardized resilience-building programs, monitoring of moral and psychological climate, and commander-focused stress management preparation. Common and distinctive features of these models are identified, along with the opportunities and limitations of their implementation in the Ukrainian context, taking into account operational experience, organizational structure, and regulatory framework. Practical recommendations are formulated regarding the comprehensive integration of psychological training into the overall system of airborne forces preparation in Ukraine.
References
2. Бойко В., Хомчак Р. Психологічна підготовка військових фахівців у конфліктах сучасності. Вісник Національного університету оборони України. 2017. № 2 (36). С. 19–27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33099/2617-1783/2017-2/19-27.
3. Стасюк В. В., Вуколов О. В. Обґрунтування рекомендацій щодо напрямів удосконалення психологічної підготовки військовослужбовців Сухопутних військ ЗС України до виконання бойових завдань. Вісник Міжнародного економіко-гуманітарного університету імені Академіка Степана Дем'янчука. Серія: Педагогіка та психологія. 2025. № 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32782/3041-2021/2025-1-20
4. Adler A. B., Delahaij R., Bailey S. M. et al. NATO survey of mental health training in army recruits. Military Medicine. 2013. Vol. 178, Issue 7. P. 760–766. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-12-00549
5. Frankova I., Klochkov V., Pyvovarenko M., Hukovskyy O., Zohar J., Vermetten E. Psychological resilience in trench warfare: Leveraging mental health frameworks for Ukrainian soldiers. Neuroscience Applied. 2025. Vol. 4. Art. 105528. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nsa.2025.105528
6. Hoyt T., Hein C. L. Combat and operational stress control in the prolonged field care environment. Military Review. 2021. Vol. 101, Issue 5. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354057739_Combat_and_operational_stress_control_in_the_prolonged_field_care_environment
7. Kucherenko N., Prykhodko I. Theoretical foundations of psychological resilience of military personnel. Honor and Law. 2025. № 2 (93). P. 106–112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33405/2078-7480/2025/2/93/339380
8. Maglione M. A., Chen C., Bialas A. et al. Combat and operational stress control interventions and PTSD: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Military Medicine. 2022. Vol. 187, Issue 7–8. P. e846–e855. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usab310
9. Michaud K., Suurd Ralph C., Connick-Keefer S. J. A. Operational stressors, psychological distress, and turnover intentions: The impact of potentially morally injurious experiences. Military Psychology. 2021. Vol. 33, Issue 4. P. 250–263. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2021.1906075
10. NATO. Allied medical publication: Psychological support and management of combat stress (AMedP-8.10). Brussels: NATO, 2021.
11. Naifeh J. A., Ursano R. J., Stein M. B. et al. Optimism, sociability, and the risk of future suicide attempt among U.S. Army soldiers. Military Medicine. 2024. Vol. 189, Issue 7–8. P. e1642–e1652. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usad457
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
