Human potential management of the armed forces of ukraine in the national security system under the conditions of the russian–ukrainian war

Abstract

The article examines human potential management in the Armed Forces of Ukraine as one of the key components of the national security system amid the protracted Russian–Ukrainian war, the quantitative asymmetry of forces, the technological transformation of warfare, and the growing requirements for the professional training of military personnel. It analyzes the development of voluntary recruitment, the professionalization of military recruiters, the implementation of the Impuls information and communication system and the Army+ application, the expansion of personnel mobility, the reform of the professional non-commissioned officer corps, and the alignment of military education with NATO approaches. The systemic limitations of the current military personnel management model are examined. It is demonstrated that the significance of the human potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for national security is determined by the state’s capacity to ensure alignment between a service member’s knowledge, experience, abilities, and the requirements of a specific position. It is substantiated that combat effectiveness is multiplicative in nature and results from the interaction of sufficient personnel strength, competency alignment, quality of command, technological integration, adequate support, motivation, and organizational adaptability. Relevant talent management practices employed by the armed forces of Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States are summarized. A combined Euro-Atlantic model of competency-based human potential management in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is proposed. The necessity of creating a unified digital service member profile, a competency framework, competency profiles for critical positions, command and expert-technical career pathways, predictive personnel analytics, and a comprehensive system for retaining trained personnel is substantiated. It is concluded that strengthening Ukraine’s national security requires a transition from personnel document administration and the rapid filling of vacancies to managing the professional value, potential, and career trajectory of each service member.