RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Aim: To investigate cadets' motivational priorities for physical exercises and sports in the process of their training and the dynamics of their health indicators. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The research was conducted at the National Academy of Internal Affairs in 2018-2022. The research of motivational priorities involved 372 male cadets from the 1st to the 4th instructional years aged 17 to 22. Two groups were formed to investigate the state of cadets' health: group A (n = 39) included motivated cadets who were additionally engaged in sports, group B (n = 66) was represented by insufficiently motivated cadets who undertook training according to the traditional physical education program and did not additionally engage in physical exercises and sports. RESULTS: Results: It was found that the motivational priorities of cadets for physical exercises and sports vary depending on the instructional year. Group A cadets showed a significantly better level of health than those from group B, by 2.98 points (p ≤ 0.001) during the 4th instructional year. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: A high level of cadets' health formed in the process of physical exercises and sports during training will contribute to the mastering of the educational program and, in the future, will ensure the effectiveness of their service activities. Therefore, the formation of cadets' conscious motivation for motor activities during training in order to improve their health is an important task of higher educational institutions.