THE SYSTEM OF PHYSICAL TRAINING OF YOUNG BORDER GUARD OFFICERS: CURRENT PROBLEMS AND WAYS OF IMPROVEMENT

Abstract

The article examines the system of physical training of young border guard officers in Ukraine under martial law and ongoing armed aggression. The author distinguishes three analytical levels – normative, organizational-pedagogical, and applied – which together reveal the structural links between the requirements of operational and combat duties and the content of vocationally applied physical training. Specific attention is given to internal contradictions of the current system, including formalism in assessment, limited material resources in raiding and on the front line, insufficient individualization of physical loads, and weak integration with tactical and special training. The provisions of the order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine of 13 July 2022 No. 427, together with the amendments introduced by the order of 20 August 2024 No. 573, are analyzed. They have updated the age-group classification and broadened the list of control exercises for assessing fitness levels. Comparison of the Ukrainian regulatory framework with the approaches of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the Common Core Curriculum has identified vectors for harmonizing Ukrainian standards with those of the European Union. The author proposes ways to improve the system, including introducing a project-oriented approach, functional training and CrossFit, digital monitoring of functional state, integrating psychological resilience with physical development, and aligning the military-applied component with the character of modern combat operations. It is argued that a gradual transition to a continuous model of physical training at the bachelor’s and master’s levels of education provides the basis for shaping the professional readiness of a border guard officer to perform border-protection tasks in a hybrid, high-intensity environment.