Since beginning his military career in 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Serhii Mahlovanyi has exemplified the values of dedication, adaptability, and international cooperation.
Now he is taking his next step – at the Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC), alongside other future defence leaders from around the world on the Advanced Command and Staff Course 29 (ACSC).
Lt Col Mahlovanyi arrived at the Defence Academy in May to undertake the 12 week long Pre ACSC programme – a course run by the Defence Academy’s International Group to prepare military personnel from partner nations for ACSC.
It includes academic writing, critical thinking, and presentation skills, as well as developing course members’ abilities to lead and participate in seminars. The course also offers the opportunity to build important relationships with fellow course members.
Prior to this, Lt Col Mahlovanyi led in the creation of three publications developed for soldiers undergoing UK-led Operation INTERFLEX training.
The first of these, the Leader Commander Handbook, is a comprehensive reference covering:
- leadership principles
- mission command
- psychological resilience
- battle planning
- tactical drills
- marksmanship
- navigation
- tactical graphics
- medical support
In addition, a set of standardised planning and documentation ‘slate cards’ have also been created to support efficient operations. These include:
- personnel and schedule templates
- combat layout guides
- fire planning tools
- traffic light protocol (TLP) frameworks
- after-action reviews
- logistics tracking
- symbology
- casualty assessment algorithm
Finally, a Recruit Handbook, used as a foundation manual for new recruits and instructors, focuses on:
- duties of service members
- fieldcraft
- map reading
- marksmanship
- casualty care
- psychological training
- the law of armed conflict
- chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defence
- basic military engineering
Grounded in current combat experience to ensure practical relevance, these publications represent the collaborative approach to training, and efforts of an international working group. It aims to furnish service members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a convenient and concise source of fundamental military knowledge to enhance operational effectiveness.
Lt Col Mahlovanyi, who holds a degree from the Ivan Franko State University in Ukraine and is undertaking a master's in Foreign Policy and International Relations from Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv, says:
“The opportunity to attend the Advanced Command and Staff Course is a significant milestone in my journey. It offers space for intellectual challenge, critical reflection, and the exchange of professional experience in a unique international setting. While I bring insights from Ukraine’s ongoing struggle, I come even more willing to listen, to learn, and to engage with humility and curiosity.”
ACSC is JSCSC’s flagship course, for mid-career, future defence leaders. JSCSC develops military personnel and their Civil Service counterparts for command roles, focusing on contemporary strategic and military issues, emerging trends, and risks. In partnership with King’s College London, it prepares leaders for the demands of operations in the Information Age.