“People are scared, and the task of recruiting is to help them figure it out.” Now military units can recruit fighters on their own. “Azov”, “Charter”, “K2”, the Unmanned Systems Forces and other top units tell how to do it most effectively

What has changed in military recruiting?

On October 1, military units received the right to mobilize reservists and conscripts into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for voluntary service. At that time, the Cabinet of Ministers supported the relevant resolution developed by the Ministry of Defense.

In 2 months, that is, as of December 1, military units were able to directly "register" 2,000 servicemen, and called this trend "positive". After all, in October there were about 700 mobilized, and in November there were already about 1,300 of them. It was reported that the most ineffective brigades in terms of recruiting are now the 3rd and 92nd assault brigades. Also, in early November , military units were obliged to reduce online recruiting to one day .

Prior to this, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had recruiting centers in the Land Forces, Naval Forces, Airborne Assault Forces, Special Operations Forces, and Territorial Defense, which continue to perform their work.

In total, as of early November, there are 44 recruiting centers operating in different regions of Ukraine. Consultations are provided confidentially, and summonses are not issued. The centers offer over 10,000 vacancies in various military formations: the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Service, and the Security Service of Ukraine.

Three to seven people will be responsible for recruiting in each army brigade

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Three to seven people will be responsible for recruiting in each army brigade

What online platforms and other recruiting methods do brigades have?

"We have a multi-profile advertising campaign that accumulates calls to the hotline for civilian recruiters. After preliminary selection, candidates come to us. Currently, four sergeants and soldiers work in the recruiting system," the 93rd Separate Brigade "Kholodny Yar" told dev.ua.

Vladimir Degtyarev, head of the public relations service of the 13th brigade of the Charter National Guard, says that his unit uses all popular recruiting platforms.

The military officer states that the brigade's social media is an important element. "We also receive many requests from Facebook ads, as well as from Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok. Also, in various media materials, we show that modern warfare is technological, and that service is not only infantry, but also professions such as electronic warfare/electronic warfare , communications , ISTAR , and others," notes Volodymyr Degtyarev.

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How LobbyX is creating a fundamentally new model of military recruiting in Ukraine, turning the Armed Forces of Ukraine into an employer

The Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) use a multi-channel recruiting system that includes both digital and offline tools. Among the platforms: "Diya", Lobby X, Work.ua. These are the resources through which civilians are recruited to the USF, told dev.ua Semen Koleynyk, acting commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The number of recruiters in the newly created Forces is not named, because this is information with limited access.

Recruitment also takes place through the Unmanned Systems Forces recruitment centers in Kyiv and Lviv, where potential recruits receive advice on specialties, vacant positions, and ways to join units. Other “sources” for attracting future military personnel include the official website with an online application form that allows candidates to conveniently submit their data, and recruitment events where they work directly with the audience.

“Recruitment is carried out through popular platforms: “Lobby X”, “Work UA”, “Army+”, “Diya”, as well as through social networks (“Facebook”, “Instagram”, “Telegram”),” the head of the Odessa recruiting center of the Azov regiment, friend Tara, told dev.ua in a comment.

For advertising, the unit actively uses billboards, city lights, organizes career orientation events, trainings, as well as meetings between civilians and military personnel, which help people better understand the conditions of service and the specifics of the unit.

"Offline centers allow for personal consultations, a passerby can come to the RC (recruiting center — ed.) and find out what interests them. In general, recruiters in the RC are the first contact with the team," they say in Azov.

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"Currently, we are in the process of forming the 20th separate regiment of unmanned systems, so the formation of a full-time recruiting unit is still in progress. But responsible persons have been appointed in each professional area who can professionally assess candidates and conduct a high-quality selection, so recruitment is currently underway," the 20th separate regiment of unmanned systems "K-2" said.

The Reserve+ application has launched recruitment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Currently, over 4,000 vacancies are available

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The Reserve+ application has launched recruitment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Currently, over 4,000 vacancies are available

“Online platforms give us the largest number of reviews. The main ones are: Work.ua, LobbyX. Robota.ua Our website also works very effectively. On it, future recruits can get acquainted with our unit and immediately choose their desired position and fill out a questionnaire,” dev.ua was told by the 14th Separate Airborne Assault Regiment . The unit calls on people to join its ranks by filling out a questionnaire on the website .

In the 14th Separate Airborne Rifle Regiment, they add that regularly receive a certain number of reviews from the services "Reserve+" and "Diya". We also attract those interested through our pages on social networks: Instagram, X, Telegram, Facebook",

"We also use offline channels to attract recruits. To do this, we have established cooperation with Employment Centers and Recruiting Centers of the Ukrainian Army. Thanks to this, we receive recruits from different cities throughout Ukraine. We also plan to productively cooperate with training centers in the near future, where UAV specialists are trained. We will recruit graduates of such courses to serve in our unit," they say in the 14th Separate UAV Regiment.

"IT specialists are now very much needed in combat brigades." The Kholodny Yar brigade opened its first recruiting center and spoke about open vacancies

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"IT specialists are now very much needed in combat brigades." The Kholodny Yar brigade opened its first recruiting center and spoke about open vacancies

What stages of preparation does a candidate recruit go through?

"The recruitment process includes several stages: after contacting the 3333 hotline or filling out a questionnaire on the website , the candidate undergoes a telephone interview with Charter call center operators. After successful approval, his data is transferred to the brigade's recruiters," says Volodymyr Degtyarev, head of the public relations service of the 13th brigade of the NGU.

The current procedure for joining the brigade involves going through several stages of interviews:

— ⁠Interview with a recruiter;

— Interview with the commander of the unit the soldier wishes to join;

— ⁠Distribution agreement with the Brigade Sergeant Major.

Provided that all stages of approval are met (takes place within 2 days), the soldier is assigned to the chosen specialty. In the absence of approval, the recruit is offered another direction of attachment.

After approval by the recruiter and the unit, the candidate receives a letter of recommendation, applies to the CCC and SP, passes the VLK and begins a 2-month period of basic combined military training (BZVP) at one of the training centers of the National Guard of Ukraine.

Upon completion of the BZVP, the recruit moves to the Charter, where he receives up to 4 weeks of more in-depth training at the brigade training center on the young fighter course (KMB). KMB ends with passing the brigade chevron (group race). If the recruit chooses one of the specialized specialties, then additional training and preparation begins in the unit or training centers (for example, UAV pilots are trained in specialized private or state centers).

Founder of the Charter Brigade: "If a serious IT guy comes and he doesn't "resist" too much that he wants to be a machine gun commander, then we will try to attract him to the IT sector"

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Founder of the Charter Brigade: "If a serious IT guy comes and he doesn't "resist" too much that he wants to be a machine gun commander, then we will try to attract him to the IT sector"

“Regarding the recruitment mechanism, the system is built clearly and structured,” the Unmanned Systems Forces told dev.ua.

— Candidates fill out the application form on the official website.

— Their data is checked by our recruiters, where the information is clarified.

— Interviews (online or offline) are scheduled to assess the candidate's compliance with the necessary requirements.

In general, the Unmanned Systems Forces have two recruiting centers, a recruiting team that handles general selection processes through online platforms, and each of the military units subordinate to us has a corresponding unit that handles recruiting,” the SBS noted.

The Unmanned Systems Forces have opened their second recruiting center — now in Kyiv

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The Unmanned Systems Forces have opened their second recruiting center — now in Kyiv

But the main stages for a recruit to Azov look like this:

1. Pre-selection through online platforms or offline applications.

2. Personal interview: checking motivation, skills, and basic characteristics.

3. Medical commission to assess health status.

4. Basic training, conducted by experienced fighters with many years of experience.

"Currently, 5 recruiters are actively working in the 14th Separate Airborne Assault Regiment . They are the first link that meets and advises all citizens who have decided to join our unit. And then each recruiter accompanies the recruit until the moment of mobilization or signing a contract," the unit told us.

"With positive conclusions at these stages, the recruit is submitted for consideration to the unit commander. If the commander approves the recruit, then we begin to prepare documents together with the recruit for mobilization or signing a contract. In some cases, we also conduct a security check of the recruit using OSINT or a polygraph," they say in the 14th Separate Airborne Assault Regiment.

How the media presence of commanders or founders helps the brigade

"The role of the unit commander is very important, because one of the fears that hinders mobilization is the fear of getting into a bad commander. Therefore, we actively show commanders of different levels, not only the brigade commander, but also battalion , company and platoon commanders, sergeants-majors , etc. They will communicate with the fighters every day, train them and lead them in combat operations," dev.ua was told by the 13th brigade of the Charter National Military University .

“Regarding the issue of the influence of the media personality of Colonel Vadim Sukharevsky on the recruitment of new fighters to the Unmanned Systems Forces, it is worth noting that Colonel Vadim Sukharevsky is an example of a leader who embodies a modern approach to the army, professionalism, strategic thinking, and the introduction of the latest technologies. His authority motivates both potential recruits and servicemen of other units to join the Unmanned Systems Forces ,” they say in the new branch of the military.

"The figures of Comrade Radish and Comrade Tavr are strong motivators. Their heroism and media presence increase the authority of Azov, attracting recruits who are looking for an example of leadership. We always emphasize that all commanders in our unit are people who have combat experience and have gone through all the levels, starting from a soldier to the position they currently hold," the Azov regiment told dev.ua.

“The developed personal brand of Kirill Kirillovich Veres has an exceptionally positive impact on attracting new fighters to the unit, since one of the main problems in the modern army is the frequent incompetence of management, so recruits and experienced military personnel choose to serve under the command of a commander they trust,” they say in the 20th separate regiment of unmanned systems “K-2”.

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Was the general decision on recruiting made too late?

“Recruitment is definitely beneficial, but we should not place excessive hopes on it,” the 93rd Kholodny Yar Separate Brigade told dev.ua.

At the same time, they note that recruiting is not an alternative to mobilization and is not the only means of providing a military unit with personnel. "This is an additional tool that allows you to attract motivated candidates, but it cannot be the only source of replenishment," they say in the 93rd Special Rifle Brigade "Kholodny Yar"

"It's not so much about everyone serving, but about everyone having to ask questions at their own level - what can I, my business, organization, or project do to strengthen our military, our state, and our unity, and prepare for possible service, obtaining a military specialty, and acquiring skills that may be needed in the military field," the 13th brigade of the Charter National Military University believes.

"Conducting recruitment today is an absolutely appropriate step to ensure the state's defense capability in wartime. Recruiting directly to units makes it possible not only to receive professional reinforcement, but also to provide reinforcement to units that perform tasks directly on the front line, as well as the opportunity for the unit commander to plan rotational activities that will later allow our military to rest more and be at home with their families. Today, it is important to find those who are ready to take responsibility for the security of our country, who have a strong spirit, endurance, and skills to successfully confront the enemy," the Unmanned Systems Forces believe.

"100% this should have been done much earlier. Recruiting is strategically important, especially in wartime. It allows you to attract motivated and qualified candidates. This is the first contact between a civilian and a unit. People are scared, people don't understand, and the task of the recruiting center is to help figure it out," the Azov regiment told dev.ua.

"This decision was "timely" back in early 2023. It became clear then that we had entered a protracted war. And this means that replenishment of the army should have become an established and systematic function in the army. The CCK alone is currently not enough to fully provide the army with new people. Therefore, it is not even a question of timeliness - it is a question of urgent necessity," the 14th Separate Airborne Rifle Regiment believes.

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The Ministry of Defense reported on the number of responses to the Reserve+ recruitment program and through specialized recruiting centers. In which regions are there the most people willing to serve?

Advice for military units that are starting to look for fighters through recruitment

"We should start by organizing the operational coordination of candidates. This is very important, since the needs of different units may be different. For example, one battalion may not need a candidate, while another may need him," the 93rd Kholodny Yar Separate Brigade said.

And here is the advice given in the Charter:

— Establish a high-quality process for training new recruits and the process for training staff officers.

— Study the experience of other units — in particular, the Charter, the 3rd Infantry Brigade, and recruiting centers.

— Conduct internal selection, selection, and training of specialists with previous civilian experience in recruiting, marketing, and communications.

This is how they see the beginning of recruiting in the Unmanned Systems Forces:

— Formulating values: Identify what makes the unit unique. This will become the basis for motivating candidates.

— Assessing staffing needs; clearly understanding who is missing and creating a portrait of the ideal candidate.

— Formation of a team of recruiters: attract experienced military personnel who understand the specifics of the unit well.

— Development of tools: implementation of social networks, application platforms and the possibility of personal meetings with potential candidates.

— Training recruiters in modern recruitment methods is also a key element for the effective launch of the system.

Three tips from Azov for starting a recruiting system:

1. Launch a presence on platforms: create pages on "Lobby X", "Work UA", "Army+" and on social networks.

2. Use advertising media: billboards, city lights, career guidance events, and meetings with civilians.

3. The most important thing!!! With your work, prove to people that you need to go to them, reach such a level in the team that everyone wants to go there, become an authority.

“We would advise brigades that still do not have recruiting to understand as soon as possible what specialists they need, form a team for recruitment, and submit the first vacancies, since the selection of high-quality specialists directly affects the combat capability of their unit,” the 20th separate regiment of unmanned systems “K-2” said.

Here's what they advise starting recruiting in the 14th Separate Airborne Assault Regiment:

You need to start by clearly assigning all work processes in recruiting. This is important in order to establish effective cooperation and coordination of work with all divisions of the team. This is a complex two-way process and the effectiveness of the work as a whole depends on the initial settings.

The minimum period for developing a recruiting function in a unit from scratch is 3-4 months. This is provided that resources (both human and financial) are available, as well as full support and assistance from the command.

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What offer should the military unit make to the candidate now so that he agrees to serve?

"The most important thing is to ensure that the candidate is enrolled directly, both by mobilization and by contract. This will avoid situations where the candidate may end up in another military unit," they say in the 93rd Kholodny Yar Separate Brigade.

"Charter" offers candidates high-quality training, high-quality planning of operations, and respect for human life and dignity. According to the responses to our advertising and recruitment campaigns, we see that this resonates with a certain category of Ukrainians (and not only them) who want to get into a team where they will be trained, where their leader will be a commander who plans operations in such a way as to achieve the goal, but also save people's lives," the 13th brigade of the NSU "Charter" said.

"For a candidate to want to join a particular military unit, only one thing is needed - a person's desire. War is danger and tension, uncertainty and expectation. However, it is knowledge and skills that add confidence and make a serviceman less vulnerable to enemy actions while performing tasks," the Unmanned Systems Forces say.

The SBS adds that they are doing everything to ensure that the fighters of their specialty are trained and professional. To do this, recruits undergo basic military training for 45 days and, depending on the specialty, conduct training in the specialty for two weeks to two months, where they are trained by experienced drone operators - instructors with extensive combat experience.

Here's how Azov responds about motivation:

1. Protection of the country and loved ones.

2. Social guarantees: salary, compensation, medical care.

3. Development opportunities: training, advanced training, career after service.

4. Group cohesion, where experienced mentors help new recruits.

5. Transparency of the process and honesty in communication: people should know what to expect during the service.

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"Every unit is now entering the open labor market. And it has to find words and arguments to convince a recruit to join it. This is a normal competition for the best recruits," they say in the 14th Separate Regiment of the Airborne Forces.

Key benefits of our EVP (Employee Value Proposition) for recruits:

— High technological sophistication is the essence of our regiment.

— Competent and experienced command.

— Training and professional development after joining the unit.

— The ability to choose a position according to your desire and civilian specialty — we need professionals in every position.

"We communicate with volunteers, so our relationship is primarily a partnership, where everyone has the opportunity to choose," the unit explained.

"Regarding the offer, it really sounds a bit "crinkly" (because it is the duty of all those liable for military service - ed.), but that is exactly how it looks now, since during interviews the candidates directly say that in addition to us, they have several other units under consideration and they will choose. First of all, it should be openness and humanity. Only on these virtues can the work process be built in the future and a person can be trained for the work for which he will be responsible in the military unit," the 20th separate regiment of unmanned systems "K-2" was noted.

The end of recruiting. As an IT worker, I went to mobilization for half a year without a TCC, but at the end of the journey I never received the promised offer.

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