Captains’ Training becomes a course of professional military education: what is going to change

The updated “Captains’ Training” has started its work. Over the course of three months, 76 commanders of platoons, companies, battalions, deputy commanders, and staff officers, mostly from the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, will take part in the military leadership course. 

This year, the “Captains’ Training” became a part of the Military Institute of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and became a course of professional military education. Its program was expanded and approved by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. “The tactical level command course L-1C “Captains’ Training” was included in the unified catalog of certified courses. 

The Taras Shevchenko National University Military Institute and “Come Back Alive” signed a Memorandum and joined forces to implement the “Captains’ Training”. In particular, the Foundation will raise funds from patrons, create conditions for training and accommodation of the students.

“The captains’ training provides, without exaggeration, the best level of tactical training in Ukraine. And its official status as an L-1C course is an important positive step,” says Taras Chmut, director of the Come Back Alive Foundation.

– “The training has highly qualified instructors and a program adapted to real combat operations, based on solutions needed in modern warfare. If company officers, sergeants, and battalion combat command officers are well trained, the unit performs its tasks and the front line is held. That is why we need to invest in training. The Foundation is ready to do this. For us, as a co-founder of the “Captains’ Training” high-quality, decent training and accommodation conditions are also important. We hope to improve it with each subsequent course, taking into account the experience and feedback from graduates.”

The “Captains’ Training” course was established in 2022 in the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The course is based on the Troop Leading Procedures (TLP) and the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP). It was developed on the basis of NATO standards for planning combat missions. It also takes into account the latest experience of the Russian-Ukrainian war. For example, the training cases for battle planning are based on the examples of the defense of Kyiv, Chernihiv, and the Zaporizhzhia offensive. 

All course instructors have combat experience and have been trained in the UK. 

“Weapons and equipment on the battlefield are very important, but even more important are the trained and motivated people who can use them effectively. Trained commanders who know how to plan a battle, how to manage a unit, and most importantly, who will be leaders and examples for their subordinates, will be able to make our army stronger and more effective,” emphasizes Andriy Kholodnytsky, head of the Captain’s Training course.

The course duration has been extended by four weeks – to three months. In particular, the time for studying comprehensive combat support has been increased: intelligence and engineering training, logistics, communications, medicine, and more.

“More time will be devoted to studying specialized software for the use of artillery “Kropyva” and the situational awareness system “Delta”, – says Ihor Stepanchenko, Academic Director of the “Captains’ Training”. – After completing the training, graduates will receive a military speciality “Combat use of mechanized formations, military units and subdivisions”.

As a reminder, in 2022-2023, more than 500 officers completed the “Captains’ Training”. In addition to servicemen of the AFU Territorial Defense Forces, 29 representatives of the National Guard of Ukraine and eight of the Air Assault Forces of the AFU graduated.

Since the end of 2022, the project has been implemented by the TDF Command with the support of the Come Back Alive Foundation, Genesis, SKELAR, Headway, appflame, AMO and Universe. 

You can support the Captains’ Training by following the link: cutt.ly/V3VY5YP or by transferring a donation to a separate account of the Foundation: UA12322669000002600530290596