An order by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyy on mandatory rotation of service members (2 months in positions/1 month for recovery), together with the development of a recruiting network, is creating a new reality for Ukraine’s Defence Forces, the 1st Recruiting Centre of the Ground Forces believes.
“Previously, the main barrier to joining the military in combat roles was the ‘unknown’ and the fear of an open-ended stay on the ‘zero line’; today, the state offers a clear service algorithm,” says Illya Abel, senior officer of the media relations section at the 1st Recruiting Center.
How will these changes affect recruiting, and why is this critically important for defence capability?
1. Predictability as the recruiter’s main tool.
The biggest fear a civilian has before mobilisation is losing control over their own time and life. The rotation order (the “2+1” formula) gives recruiters a powerful argument: service becomes predictable.
“When a candidate comes to the 1st Recruiting Center, they now receive not just a position, but a certain ‘road map’. The ability to know for sure that after two months of carrying out tasks there will be a guaranteed month for rest and recovery fundamentally changes perceptions of military service,” Abel emphasises.
2. A guarantee of position and rotations.
The main thesis of the 1st Recruiting Center is that a guaranteed placement in the chosen position is a key element of trust. In a high-tech war, where drones have changed the logic of combat, the army needs narrow specialists: UAV operators, engineers, communications specialists, logisticians.
“If a person knows that their civilian experience (for example, IT or mechanics) will be used as intended, the level of voluntary participation increases. The rotation order complements this guarantee: the specialist will not only work in their field, but will also have time to restore their capacity,” Abel argues.
3. Preserving life and the system’s ‘humanity’
The transformation of the concept of the rear and the forward edge due to the dominance of drones requires new approaches to safety. The order directly emphasises preserving life and health, namely:
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medical check-up and rest: making these items mandatory after rotation shows that the state sees a warrior as a person, not just a “resource”
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logistics and supplies: guaranteed replenishment of ammunition and food removes candidates’ everyday fears.
4. Impact on the quality of reinforcements.
Thanks to clear timeframes for time spent in positions, military units will be able to plan training more effectively. A month of rotation is not only rest, but also an opportunity for additional training, mastering new types of drones or tactics. For a potential recruit, this is a signal: “You will constantly improve, not burn out completely.”
5. Commanders’ accountability as a guarantee of trust.
Strict oversight of compliance with the order and inevitable accountability for violating rotation deadlines is what every volunteer expects to hear. Recruiting works only when words match deeds. If the system shows that rotations really do happen on time, the flow of candidates to recruiting centres will increase many times over thanks to service members themselves.
“In my view, combining recruiting opportunities (choosing a position) and systematic rotation (clear timelines) is the only way to build an effective military in the conditions of a protracted war,” Illya Abel concludes.
This order effectively lays the foundation for a “service-oriented” approach in the army, where the main value is a combat-ready, rested, and motivated warrior. Timely rotation and professional recruiting are the pillars on which the resilience of our defence will rest.