RESPONSIBLE ATTITUDE OF FUTURE OFFICERS TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY: THEORY AND PRACTICE OF FORMATION

Abstract

The article outlines the theoretical and methodological foundations for developing responsible attitudes among future officers toward environmental safety as a crucial factor in their professional training within higher military educational institutions in Ukraine. The relevance of the issue is underscored in the context of ongoing military actions, accompanied by the large-scale destruction of industrial and energy facilities, technogenic catastrophes, and pollution of water and soil ecosystems, all of which directly impact national security, state resilience, and public health. Based on an analysis of regulatory and legal documents, scientific sources, and the practical experience of higher military institutions, it is determined that forming a responsible attitude toward environmental safety should not be treated as an episodic educational task, but rather as a strategic component of an officer’s professional culture. The essence of the concept “responsible attitude of future officers toward environmental safety” is clarified as an integral personal and professional quality that combines cognitive, value-motivational, activity-behavioral, and reflexive-evaluative components. It reflects the readiness to act in an environmentally balanced way, minimize environmental damage during combat or service activities, and adhere to the norms of environmental law and international humanitarian legislation. The article outlines the key directions for cultivating environmental responsibility among military officers in the education system: integrating environmental topics into curricula, developing interdisciplinary training modules, applying active learning methods, and strengthening educational influence through ethical, legal, and civic education. The feasibility of adopting best NATO practices for the training of personnel in Ukraine’s security and defense sector is substantiated. Recommendations are proposed for academic and command staff of higher military institutions to enhance the educational process, improve instructors’ qualifications, develop teaching and methodological resources, and implement a systematic approach to fostering an ecological culture and professional responsibility among officers. It is concluded that the development of environmentally responsible thinking and behavior in future officers constitutes a crucial condition for their professional maturity, moral reliability, and capacity to ensure the state's resilience under conditions of military and technogenic threats.