Abstract. Relevance. Global changes in the framework of the geopolitical situation caused by the conduct of a special military operation (SMO), where our country has an active position, have actualized the guidelines and priorities of domestic state policy towards special attention to the training of police officers capable of ensuring law and order (including in non-standard conditions, in the territories newly annexed to the Russian Federation). In this connection, the education of cadets of universities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs today involves both the development of professional competencies in a knowledge-applied way, and, equally, the formation of professionally and personally significant qualities. One of the key positions in this direction is the development of motivation for the profession, for learning within the framework of one's field of training.
 The relevance of the problem allowed us to identify the subject (features of the motivational resource of personality among cadets of the Ministry of Internal Affairs universities) and the purpose of the study (to identify the features of the motivational resource of personality of cadets of the Ministry of Internal Affairs universities as conditions for the formation of their professional competence).
 The methodological basis of the research is formed on the basis of fundamental and innovative concepts in the field of studying the formation and development of personal motivation (A.N. Leontiev, A.G. Maklakov, V.M. Myasishchev, S.L. Rubinstein); motivation to study (A.K. Markova, N.F. Talyzina), motivation to serve in law enforcement agencies and bodies law enforcement (Y.N. Guryanov, I.V. Dmitriev, E.P. Ilyin, L.G. Laptev, A.A. Teterin, etc.).
 Research methods: review-analytical, experimental, quantitative and qualitative data analysis. The number of respondents is 147 male cadets of 1-5 courses.
 The results of the experimental study: the majority of respondents demonstrated an average level of development of the motivational resource of the individual – 42.2%, a high level was detected in 32.6% of the subjects, a low level – in 25.5%. The research materials can be useful in organizing and implementing the educational process in the universities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
 Conclusions: during the professional training of cadets of universities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, attention should be focused on the formation of a motivational resource of the individual (a progressive motivational profile of the individual, the desire to achieve success and affiliation, motivation to study).