Situational conditions at the state border as a factor influencing the staffing of border guard units' headquarters with managerial personnel

Modern challenges in the state border protection (SBP) require improved approaches to staffing the headquarters of border guard units with management personnel. Managerial activities have a pronounced intellectual component, as they involve the development, adoption and implementation of managerial decisions in a changing situation. This requires a high level of adaptability and flexibility, as solutions must be effective and capable of changing the course of operations or battles, as well as influencing the mindset and behaviour of troops or forces in the course of performing tasks. The article deals with the specifics of managerial activities in the units of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) in the context of modern hybrid warfare. The purpose of this article is to analyze how situational conditions at the state border affect the staffing of managerial personnel in border guard unit headquarters. The authors pay special attention to the asymmetry of the actions of the russian federation, which is actively using new methods of warfare, in particular the use of strategic and tactical incommensurability between goals and resources, which in turn creates new challenges for border guard units. Taking this context into account has led to the need to analyse the graphical cause-and-effect relationships of the risks associated with changes in the situation in the border area and to identify the types of tasks that need to be implemented to effectively counter threats. An important aspect is also the definition of criteria for assessing the operational efficiency of border guard unit headquarters, which should take into account the specific conditions of the situation. It is concluded that the organisation of service in border guard units occurs under conditions of constant change and uncertainty. This requires appropriate, specific decisions to be made, which must be implemented in light of the current situation. The managerial capacity of the border guard units' headquarters should be focused on a prompt and flexible response to changes in the situation. To achieve this, the headquarters' capability to make quick, accurate decisions in critical situations must be ensured. The assessment of headquarters performance should take into account the ability of personnel to analyse the conditions of service, clearly define the necessary tasks, and properly allocate available resources. This includes not only professionalism but also the ability to work under conditions of high uncertainty and limited time. The asymmetric actions used by russia require the search for innovative approaches to the organisation of managerial processes that enable not only to counter traditional threats but also to respond effectively to various forms of aggression. The procedure for selecting candidates for senior positions in the headquarters of border guard units should include specific criteria that determine the ability of applicants to analyse and make effective decisions in a changing situation. This should include an assessment of their operational thinking, their ability to manage crises and their ability to effectively organise interaction with other units. The article provides a practical framework for assessing how situational conditions at the state border directly impact the staffing needs of border guard headquarters. Its findings can be used to optimize personnel management decisions and improve the operational readiness of border units.