The Bulletin of National Defence University of Ukraine

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  • Vol. 20, No. 6, 2025

  • The experience of the United States Armed Forces in preventing delinquent behaviour among military personnel

  • Received 30.05.2025,
  • Revised 05.11.2025,
  • Accepted 27.11.2025
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Vol. 20, No. 6, 2025
  • combat stress; offences; psychological intervention; resocialisation; rehabilitation; support
  • https://doi.org/10.33099/2617-6858-25-20-6-52-60
  • Pages 52-60

Delinquent behaviour among military personnel, manifested in disciplinary violations, aggressive or unlawful actions, negatively affects the combat capability of troops, which highlights the need to develop effective systems for preventing maladaptive behaviour in combat conditions, where military personnel are in a state of chronic stress, loss and social isolation. In this context, the approach of the United States of America, which has significant historical and contemporary experience in combating such challenges, is valuable for analysing and possibly borrowing effective forms and methods of preventing behavioural deviations among soldiers. The aim of the study was to analyse the characteristics of delinquent behaviour among servicemen of the Armed Forces of the United States of America and to evaluate existing approaches to its prevention. To achieve the aim of the study, a set of theoretical methods was used, such as analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalisation and content analysis, which made it possible to identify the specifics of deviant behaviour among military personnel and to study preventive approaches and programmes implemented in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. The analysis resulted in a generalised model of a system for the prevention of delinquent behaviour that operates in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. It combines various levels of prevention, from basic preventive measures to specialised assistance and rehabilitation. The system is multi-vector and includes psychological, social, medical and legal components. Its implementation involves state structures, military command, psychologists, doctors, chaplains, mentors and other support entities. Modern prevention tools are used, including electronic services, mobile applications, remote consultations, educational programmes, crisis interventions and risk prediction technologies. The system is focused not only on eliminating the consequences of maladaptive behaviour, but also on its early detection, the development of stress resistance skills and the maintenance of an appropriate level of military discipline and psychological resilience among personnel. The generalised model of the delinquent behaviour prevention system has demonstrated the potential for integrating psychological, social, medical and legal measures into a single complex. Its practical value lies in its potential use as a guideline for improving the national system, taking into account the specifics of military service, cultural context and current legislation

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