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MORAL AND ETHICAL UPBRINGING OF FUTURE MILITARY PERSONNEL

The article reveals the necessity and relevance of moral and ethical education of future military personnel, outlines its various aspects. The process of formation of moral and ethical qualities of future military officers at four stages of the educational process and further career development is presented: selection, training, education, career development.
Keywords: future officers, moral and ethical education, professional training, leadership, education.

Krokun-Baranova A. P., Magilin O. V.
Applicants of the third (educational and scientific) level of higher education,
H. S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine

10.34142//2708-4809.SIUTY.2022.94

Moral and ethical qualities are the qualities that every serviceman must master, constantly develop and improve throughout his career. Moral and ethical upbringing is the formation of stable moral qualities, feelings, skills and habits of behavior based on the acquisition of ideals, norms and principles of morality. The main goal of moral and ethical upbringing is to form the basis of the ethical culture of students, to cultivate their spiritual values and artistic taste. At the same time, moral and ethical upbringing provides future military personnel with the opportunity to master professionally important skills that help them make informed decisions. The most effective way to achieve this is to build a logical process of moral and ethical upbringing based on learning by example [2], i.e. when the applicant uses the situations discussed in class as a guide for future complex decision-making. These decisions are considered complex either because of the complexity of the parameters or the possible consequences. Many ethical decisions involve a component of integrity, but this multifaceted approach is essential for basic reform of educational principles [1].

It is worth noting that part of the moral and ethical upbringing of future military personnel is the formation of a sense of patriotism, when students have a strong belief that they are faithfully serving their nation. This sense of duty helps future military personnel overcome fears when there is danger. Pride in their country helps them prioritize the outcome of the mission rather than the need for their own safety [4].

Moral and ethical upbringing contributes to the formation of strong morals that prevent internal and external violations of the behavior of future military personnel. Sometimes, peer pressure or the desire to be obedient can lead to wrong decisions in terms of morality.

It should be noted that in institutions with enhanced military training, there are programs designed to eliminate “inappropriate” behavior and to develop the ability of future military personnel to make ethical choices. A factor in the success of such prevention programs is the ability of future military personnel to recognize when mission imperatives conflict with personal values. Understanding that a decision is ethically correct helps to cope with professional tasks [5].

Another aspect of the moral and ethical upbringing of future military personnel is the fact that the armed forces have representatives of different political movements, religions, and cultural backgrounds. In view of this, officers-educators should take into account the peculiarities of such a multicultural environment when organizing educational work with cadets.

Moral and ethical upbringing during the basic training of future military personnel helps them to understand more clearly the needs and reasons for their service. In the future, cultivating this understanding helps to reduce the number of military personnel who do not try to avoid performing their duties, but understand what ethical behavior means for a military member as a representative of their country. That is why moral and ethical education is an integral part of the training of future military personnel.

Given the growing importance of ethics in the military environment, it is very important to assess the ethical abilities of future military personnel at four stages of the career development process:

— The selection stage involves analyzing the potential for personal development of future military personnel. Future military personnel should demonstrate ethical behavior at the beginning of their training. That is why continuous moral and ethical education should be carried out from the first days of the formation of the team of future military personnel and constantly supported throughout their military career [3].

— The training stage. Military training of future officers is realized on the basis of moral and ethical education. If the instructor confronts future military personnel with ethical dilemmas or difficult situations, he or she will force them to use their critical thinking skills [2]. The professional and physical training of future military personnel should gradually become more complex, and ethical issues should become part of the entire educational process.

— The education stage. Education is the cornerstone of critical thinking. If future military personnel already have some skills of ethical understanding, they can improve them through academic education. If a future officer knows the basic manifestations of ethical behavior and decision-making, he or she will be able to transfer it to the formation and development of his or her leadership skills [2]. At the final stage of academic training, future military officers can consider moral and ethical norms in four areas of the leadership model: their own moral and ethical qualities, moral and ethical behavior of subordinates, ethical decision-making about the goal, and moral and ethical management of their environment.

— The career development stage. Once a young officer has been promoted to a leadership position, he or she is able to act directly and make his or her own decisions based on moral and ethical standards, and to provide reasonable explanations for the decision-making process. Mentoring is a crucial aspect of the further moral and ethical development of a leader officer.

Military personnel, regardless of rank, should regularly evaluate their actions and results with a more experienced colleague, which allows them to continuously improve. Moral and ethical upbringing also plays an important role in counseling and disciplinary processes.

Thus, moral and ethical upbringing is mandatory at all stages of training of future military personnel. It is the basis for their professional formation, personal development, leadership and career growth, a guarantee of loyalty to their nation, and a willingness to make informed decisions.

List of references

1. Boiarska-Khomenko A.V. Remote education of adults as one of the ways to solve the negative consequences of military conflict. Revistă ştiinţifică progresivă. 2018. Issue 1. Р. 5-8.
2. Micewski E. R. Conveying ideas and values in education! Challenges in teaching military ethics. Didactics of Military Ethics. Leiden, ND: BRILL NIJHOFF, 2016. P. 173-177.
3. Mooney Lisa (n. d.). Advantages of training employees about work ethics. Small Business Chronicle. URL: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-training-employees-workethics-44472.html (accessed 10/28/22).
4. Krokun-Baranova A. P. The origins of the idea of military training for women in Ukraine. Means of educational and research work. 2022. Issue 58. С. 41-49.
5. Magilin O. V. Prerequisites for the opening of vocational secondary education institutions with enhanced military training in Latvia. Theory and methods of teaching and upbringing. 2022. № 52. С. 126-136.