Enhancing future officers' physical preparedness in the process of professional training: a higher military education institution case study

Abstract

The article reveals the results of a study of physical preparedness of cadets studying at the tactical level of military education in a Higher Military Educational Institution of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. The authors of the article determine that in the result of physical training, the future officers form a complex ability that combines intention for constant professional physical development and selfimprovement, readiness to utilize applied and methodological knowledge on physical culture, applied motor skills and personal safety skills, defense and attack skills using special means and techniques of hand-to-hand combat, ability to use physical force and special means. A group of 275 cadets of 3-4 courses who were studying at the tactical level of military education was selected for the study. The generalized data allowed to conclude that the majority of cadets have an average level of formation of knowledge, abilities, skills and their average value of physical preparedness equals 3,420 on a fivepoint scale. The authors note that in the context of the traditional educational process, cadets are not sufficiently motivated to engage in physical education and their level of physical preparedness is affected by age characteristics and service employment.