Why NATO Training for Ukrainian Troops Is Outpacing Traditional Manuals

Western militaries training Ukrainian troops for the war with Russia cannot rely on the usual cycle of periodically updated manuals, Brigadier Atle Molde told Business Insider. Molde, commander of Task Force Legio, said training needs constant updates on the tactics and weaponry that work on a rapidly changing battlefield. His clearest warning: manuals issued once a year are “just too slow.”

Norway is leading multinational training for Ukrainian troops at Camp Jomsborg in eastern Poland as part of Operation Legio. The program aims to teach Western doctrine and best practices while integrating Ukrainian battlefield experience. Instructors adjust when Ukrainian soldiers say their forces no longer use a tactic, making field feedback central to keeping the training relevant.

Ukrainian soldiers say tactics can change every week, and some cutting-edge battlefield technology can become obsolete within weeks. Drone school leaders have also told Business Insider that lessons may need updates as often as every other week. That creates a training challenge: exercises must mirror the battlefield closely enough to remain useful, but the battlefield itself keeps shifting.

Ukraine’s experience has become a wake-up call for NATO as Western militaries assess whether they can adapt tactics and technology quickly enough. NATO said Russia’s war against Ukraine has compressed innovation cycles from years into months and that battlefield innovation is moving faster than ever. Adm. Pierre Vandier, NATO’s supreme allied commander for transformation, said adaptation may be the most important lesson from Ukraine.