SOF Sergeant Major: ‘War Shows NCO Corps is Necessity of Combat Capability’

When Russian missiles began barraging Ukrainian cities in the first moments of the full-scale invasion, the Sergeant Major of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SOF), who goes by the call sign Kremin, made a resolute decision without hesitation.

On the morning of Feb. 24, 2022, he was on his way to Boryspil Airport, where he was scheduled to fly to the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy for a nearly year-long strategic-level course. Instead, he turned around and headed to his unit to stand alongside his comrades.

Due to operational necessity, the then-sergeant major of the SOF training center joined a combat team. Although it was outside his usual responsibilities, the situation called for planting landmines. Once the training process at the SOF training center resumed, Kremin returned to assist his comrades.

“This might seem like a step back and not align with the duties of a sergeant major of a military unit, but in my heart, with my desire and drive to stand with the guys, I went out with them… I wanted to be with them. The enemy was 70 kilometers (43 miles) away from our unit. I couldn’t sit idle,” Kremin said in an interview with Bukvy.

SOF Sergeant Major had significant combat experience and an extensive background in executing combat and special operations. He had served in roles ranging from scout to sergeant major of a military unit. Alongside his professional expertise, leadership, and instructional skills, Kremin had completed numerous specialized courses, including sniper training, survival, mountain warfare, and rapid shooting.

These skills became essential almost immediately. After completing several missions near the borders with Russia and Belarus, his team was redeployed to the Kharkiv direction, where they set up ambushes and mined the terrain.

During one mission, a team quietly got 20 kilometers (12 miles) behind enemy lines to capture a high-value target. “There’s nothing better for a reconnaissance operator or SOF operator than capturing or destroying the enemy in their rear without firing a single shot,” Kremin said.

Everything was going according to plan until footsteps were heard, and the distance between the fighters and the enemy closed to a critical eight meters. “We had to open fire and destroy the enemy because my life and the lives of my combat buddies were at risk,” he said.

The gunfire stirred up a hornet’s nest. During the skirmish, Kremin was wounded. The first bullet struck his body armor, breaking his ribs, while the second pierced his abdomen. Despite this, his group prevailed, destroying all enemies.

The team withdrew from enemy lines intact, with Kremin and his combat buddy, wounded in the lung, continuing to move toward the evacuation point.

Despite his injuries, rehabilitation, numerous assignments, and duties as the sergeant major of the SOF training center, Kremin eventually resumed his studies in the United States—a journey he had initially planned to undertake on the day Russia unleashed its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“I went there to learn, to develop the sergeant corps and its capabilities, to bring back cutting-edge expertise from NATO and beyond,” Kremin explained.

The U.S. Sergeants Major Academy program provided Kremin with unparalleled experience while he served as the sergeant major of a military unit. Among a diverse audience of sergeants from 59 countries, Kremin was the sole representative of Ukraine.

“I absorbed as much knowledge as I could to implement everything necessary for the development of the SOF’s sergeant and officer corps,” he shared.

The prestigious U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in Texas is one of the world’s leading institutions of its kind. Its nearly one-year program trains sergeant majors at a strategic level and offers advanced leadership and professional development courses.

Kremin’s relentless pursuit of excellence and readiness did not go unnoticed. Recognizing his potential, leadership appointed him as the Sergeant Major of the SOF in 2024 to spearhead the development of the sergeant corps.

Training as the Foundation of Success: The SOF Philosophy

Sergeants of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces undergo rigorous training in special reconnaissance, direct action, resistance movement preparation, and information operations. These areas are divided into numerous specialized courses.

The war has demonstrated that a strong sergeant corps is not just essential but foundational to combat readiness, believes Kremin.

“This has borne fruit—today, Ukrainian sergeants perform duties and tasks that were previously beyond their scope,” Kremin said, emphasizing that over the past decade, the Ukrainian sergeant corps has made remarkable progress.

For Kremin, the Sergeant Corps is more than just a structure; he describes it as a family that bridges the gap between soldiers and commanders prepares, motivates, executes, and inspires.

In the SOF, training is always the top priority. Only after comprehensive training, which includes professional, leadership, and specialized courses, can a SOF service member be deployed to the battlefield.

“With this approach, their survival rate and task completion success significantly increase. It’s like teaching someone to drive a car: they attend driving school and then gain experience and confidence on the road. What happens if you put someone behind the wheel without practice? The SOF training center is one of the best in Ukraine’s Armed Forces; they train exceptionally well,” Kremin said proudly.

“We, as sergeant majors, understand this well. We prepare, plan, coordinate, and do everything possible to ensure that a soldier (or sailor) and sergeant (or petty officer) is thoroughly trained before executing combat (or special) missions.”

Kremin feels fortunate to serve in the SOF, as all commanders have supported the development of the sergeant corps.

“Thanks to our commander, Brigadier General Trepak, the sergeant corps continues its rapid development,” Kremin said, emphasizing that this support has enabled the SOF to begin surpassing even NATO’s leading states in the evolution of their sergeant corps.