The defense army as an educational institute of the state: a comparative view of Ukraine and Israel

The article examines the Defense Army as an educational institution of the state. For this purpose, a comparative cross-sectional analysis was conducted regarding the course of this process in countries that at certain historical times were in similar historical conditions: Ukraine – Israel. It is noted that the Army is not only an institution guaranteeing «national security», but also an instrument for the formation of national identity. Moreover, it is not just about the army being used for superficial propaganda purposes to foster a sense of «patriotism» and instill a sense of «national identity», but there is a much deeper function – the formation of a nation, because a strong and nationally motivated army of the country is one of the foundations of a national state. It studied that since its creation, the Israel Defense Army has conducted diverse educational activities. Hundreds of military personnel who spoke the national language – Hebrew, taught the repatriates, introduced them to the history and modern realities of the country, its geography, and tried to develop in them a sense of civic responsibility for their new state. The personnel of the Israeli army in the initial period of the restoration of statehood took on the task of forming a new society. At the same time, a lot of attention was paid to learning the language in the army; it had to be mastered by everyone, but first by commanders. It is noted that in the training of the personnel of the state’s armed forces in each country, youth national-patriotic, paramilitary public organizations play a significant role. Russia’s aggression has intensified the existing problems of military and national-patriotic education of youth, which is extremely important for the security of the state. Especially its information component showed that the lack of attention to national-patriotic education, youth military training of the proper level on the part of the Ukrainian authorities, starting from the time of the declaration of independence, led to the transformation of Ukrainian youth into an object of ideological influence of the enemy. In Israel, such work with youth has been carried out since the restoration. It is highlighted that among the problems of the formation of the Ukrainian army – the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in addition to the «Soviet style of management» of a significant part of the commanders, proper training of personnel, the lack of officers of the proper level of knowledge and skills of managing military collectives in new historical conditions, it is worth highlighting the lack of proper educational work built on the historical memory of the formation of the Ukrainian nation, on its national symbols and ideology of state building, the establishment of the Ukrainian language, etc. A comparative cross-section of the educational processes of the Defense Forces of Ukraine and Israel allows us to assert that the Armed Forces of Ukraine lag significantly behind in organizing and conducting national-patriotic work for military personnel, although it is precisely this activity that has made it possible to cultivate prominent military figures from young people.