--- title: "\"It's too early for me\": Air Assault Forces Commander Oleh Apostol explains why rapid career growth for commanders is not always justified" description: "Air Assault Forces Commander Oleh Apostol stated that rapid career growth for military commanders is not always justified: advancement requires professional, moral, and psychological maturity, not just age. The Air Assault Forces operate a rating system and are building a personnel reserve." date: 2026-11-13T08:54:24.970Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/apostol-rapid-career-growth-not-always-justified tags: [ukraine-army, dshv, military-cadres, apostol, afu, personnel-policy] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # "It's too early for me": Air Assault Forces Commander Oleh Apostol explains why rapid career growth for commanders is not always justified ![Commander of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces Major General Oleh Apostol in camouflage uniform against a camouflage net](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/13/apostol-bystryi-karernyi-rost-komandirov-ne-vsegda-opravdan/apostol-bystryi-karernyi-rost-komandirov-ne-vsegda-opravdan-1.webp) ## Key Points - Air Assault Forces Commander Oleh Apostol stated that rapid career growth for commanders is not always justified and that one must "grow professionally, morally, and psychologically" into a high position. - Apostol listed key criteria for advancement: service experience, time in command positions, behavior in combat, and decision-making skills. - The Air Assault Forces operate a commander rating system and purposefully form a personnel reserve from junior command officers. - The statements came against the backdrop of Commander-in-Chief Drapatyi's document on leadership principles, where people are named the primary value and service must become predictable in terms of duration and rotation. Commander of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major General Oleh Apostol, stated that the rapid career growth of military commanders is not always justified. He announced this during a meeting with journalists when asked about his own prospects for a higher position. "It's too early for me. You need to grow into a position professionally, morally, and psychologically," Apostol emphasized, as reported by RBC-Ukraine. ### Criteria, Not Age According to the Air Assault Forces commander, an officer's age is not the sole and determining factor when considering them for a higher command position. Apostol listed several criteria that, in his view, are of primary importance: overall service experience, time spent in command positions, behavior on the battlefield, and, most importantly, the ability to make decisions under uncertainty. It is the combination of these factors, rather than formal indicators, that should determine an officer's readiness to expand their zone of responsibility. ### Personnel Reserve and Rating System The Air Assault Forces commander emphasized the need for the systematic formation of a personnel reserve. According to him, officers who currently command platoons, companies, and battalions could head significantly larger military formations in a few years. Within the Air Assault Forces, he stated, there is a deliberate effort to retain promising commanders, as preparing a qualified leader takes more than a year. In addition, the Air Assault Forces operate an internal commander rating system, which serves as the basis for promotions. ### Context: Leadership Principles in the Armed Forces of Ukraine Apostol's statements came against the backdrop of the recent publication by AFU Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi of a document on leadership principles in the army. This document names people as the primary value and articulates an intention to make military service more predictable — specifically regarding service terms, rotation procedures, and dismissal conditions. The document sets a framework in which personnel decisions must be made based on clear criteria rather than administrative arbitrariness. ### Personnel Reshuffles Following Drapatyi's Appointment As Ukrainian media noted, following Drapatyi's appointment as commander-in-chief, no mass personnel changes occurred in the AFU structure. At the same time, according to sources, officers who have risen from the lower rungs of the command ladder are being actively promoted to higher command positions. Thus, Apostol's position on the need to "grow into" a position and build a personnel reserve fits into the overall course of gradual but consistent rotation of the command staff, based on combat experience and professional maturity rather than the speed of promotion. ## Fact-Check & Sources - ["Мне еще рано": командующий ДШВ Апостол оценил перспективу стать главкомом ВСУ](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/meni-shche-zarano-komanduvach-dshv-apostol-1794559738.html) - Direct quotes from Apostol regarding career growth, promotion criteria, personnel reserve, and commander ratings. Context regarding Drapatyi's document and personnel changes in the AFU. - [Командующий ДШВ объяснил успех Сил обороны на Запорожском направлении](https://news.liga.net/politics/news/komanduyushtii-dshv-obyasnil-uspeh-sil-oborony-na-zaporozhskom-napravlenii) - Confirms Apostol's position as Air Assault Forces Commander and his public activity. Mentions Syrskyi as Commander-in-Chief — likely an interview from an earlier date. - [Украинские военные побеждают россиян в ближних боях в 90% случаев – командующий ДШВ](https://news.liga.net/politics/news/ukrainskie-voennye-pobezhdayut-rossiyan-v-blizhnih-boyah-v-90-sluchaev-komanduyushtii-dshv) - Additional context regarding Apostol's public appearances and his role as Air Assault Forces Commander. - [Экс-заключённые и иностранцы больше не воюют в ДШВ – Апостол](https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2026/04/03/8028577/) - Confirms Apostol's tenure as Air Assault Forces Commander (April 2026). ## FAQ ### Who is Oleh Apostol and what position does he hold? Oleh Apostol is a Major General and Commander of the Air Assault Forces (AAS) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. ### Why, according to Apostol, is rapid career growth for commanders not always justified? Apostol believes that to hold a high command position, an officer must "grow professionally, morally, and psychologically." Age is not the only factor; service experience, time in command positions, combat behavior, and decision-making skills are also crucial. ### How is the personnel reserve formed in the Air Assault Forces? The Air Assault Forces operate a commander rating system used for promotions. Promising officers commanding platoons, companies, and battalions are purposefully retained and prepared to command larger formations over the course of several years. ### What leadership document was published by the AFU Commander-in-Chief? AFU Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi published a document on army leadership principles naming people as the primary value. The document also stated intentions to make service predictable regarding terms, rotation, and dismissal procedures.