Problem of AFU is turnover of personnel, army lacks junior commanders - General Nikoliuk. VIDEO
Major General Viktor Nikoliuk, commander of the training of the Land Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that the problem of the Ukrainian army is staff turnover. This is especially true when it comes to junior commanders who are with the military in the field - either in a trench or in a tank.
According to Censor.NET, he spoke about this in an interview with the Radio Liberty project "Donbas Realities".
"In any army, the problem is the junior commander. A squad leader, a platoon leader, a company commander. This is the unit that is fighting, that is on the ground with the personnel, in the trench, in the tank. Unfortunately, this is the unit that has to lead and suffers losses," noted General Nikoliuk.
According to him, given the staff turnover and the need for squad leaders and platoon commanders, this process is not over.
"It is permanent. It is controlled by the higher headquarters, it is controlled by our commander, it is controlled at all levels. And, of course, it needs even more resources. More resources, both instructor and human," explained Nikoliuk.
He said that basic training for a sergeant, for example, lasts 50 days. After this stage, there should also be professional training to become squad leader. The combat experience of the soldier is taken into account.
"There were cases, like mine, when the company sergeant major led even the company. Unfortunately, there were several cases when the company commander was killed, and it was the chief sergeant who performed the combat mission, held the position, which resulted in the survival of people and the completion of the task. We also emphasise this. The main emphasis is on the practical component, the ability to work with people," the general added.
