How to Encourage People to Serve in the Armed Forces? The Commander of the 'Wolves Da Vinci' Named the 'Recipe for Success'.

The Battalion Commander Calls for Change in Motivation for Mobilization

Serhiy Filimonov, the commander of the 108th battalion 'Wolves Da Vinci', believes that motivation is a key element of successful mobilization. Instead of forcing people into military service, it is better to create conditions where everyone can develop their strengths.

In 2014, I joined the 'Azov' unit, and after 10 days of training, we liberated Mariupol. The main recipe for success is motivation.

According to Filimonov, the Armed Forces have their advantages, such as monetary support, the opportunity to travel abroad during leave, social guarantees, and the possibility of career growth. However, the shortcomings of the military training system and equipment distribution, low command levels, and enforced mobilization affect the motivation of soldiers.

Filimonov suggests several changes that could enhance the motivation of servicemen:

• Creating a transparent recruitment system so that everyone can choose the unit and position they would like to serve in;
• Fair distribution of equipment and weapons;
• Improving the qualifications of commanders;
• Changing the approach to the training of recruits, where they will undergo basic training and serve in the corresponding unit;
• Updating the basic provisions for soldiers;
• Creating new brigades based on effective units;
• An information campaign that provides information on the advantages of military service and the results of the reforms.

The commander also expressed his opinion on the mobilization of 18-year-olds. He believes that forcing young people to serve will only worsen the situation. Instead, the youth will want to join units with authoritative commanders voluntarily.

Previously, Filimonov emphasized the problems of incompetent management of troops in the Pokrovsk direction.

In contrast, the USA expressed concern about the lack of human resources for Ukraine. The former US Secretary of State noted the importance of having people capable of resisting Russian aggression, even if they are provided with weapons and funding.

However, the advisor to the President of Ukraine stated that the country is not preparing to lower the mobilization age to 18 years due to the failure to supply promised weapons.