Currently, a resource of scientific research has been formed on the problem of improving the training of cadet school students. The relevance of the study of the training of cadet school students is due to the geopolitical and military-strategic challenges of the XXI century, the formation of power structures and departments that ensure the protection of democratic values, the system, statehood and stability of the development of the Russian Federation, the adoption of new documents and changes in the regulatory framework of education. Historical research in the field of cadet education has revealed that for its effectiveness it must have a pronounced goal of pre-professional training. The content of pre-professional training is determined by the formation of motivation, educational and physical readiness of pupils for further training in military specialties at universities and for the formation of the basics of competencies required in military service. There is a need to analyze modern pedagogical dissertation research in this area, establish common and special features in them, systematize their results and identify the most promising proven ways to solve the problems of improving the pre-professional training of cadets. Promising areas for improving the pre-professional training of cadet school students are the formation of military-professional identity and pre-professional competencies among cadets, which in turn are associated with measures of pedagogical support of cadet education, propaedeutics of military service, the formation of patriotism, professional self-determination, leadership qualities, readiness for risk situations, strengthening and profiling of physical training, acquisition of basic competencies, in demand in the further training of military affairs and the profession of a military specialist on the basis of contextual, group, project, game and team educational technologies.