The article presents analytical review of theoretical phase of psychological techniques development – metaphorical association cards "Masc" to work with servicemen (combatants) of the Ukrainian armed forces. The main purpose of the tools abovementioned is to increase efficiency of psychological support of servicemen (combatants) of the Ukrainian armed forces (including those who take part in combat actions in the combat area). Metaphorical association cards provide arrangement of constructive dialog between a serviceman and a psychologist that makes possible to optimise time for getting into psychological contact. Metaphorical associational cards are helpful both in performing of psychognosis of servicemen (individually and in groups) promptly and enabling to resolve numerous problems (normalize negative emotional conditions, increase motivation for activity, contribute to resolve conflict situations inside of unit) etc. Use of these cards is more practical because of massive refusals of servicemen to perform tests' tasks with traditional methods of psychognosis, i.e. survey, blank test procedures, computer-based automated psychological procedures, etc. The following results were obtained from theoretical phase of research: 1) peculiarities of metaphorical associational cards were defined, they were recognised as an active psychological tool. Procedure for their employment was determined. Basic recommendations for their development were formed; 2) particularities and advantages of Masc therapy method were defined, and recommendations for it practical use were developed; 3) advantages of both methods combination – Masc therapy method and metaphorical associational cards (MAC) use were established. Creation of psychological tools MAC "Masc" was the result of this research, it is designed for psychological work with servicemen (combatants) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; 4) the basic list of problems was defined, that is the object to find solution for them by mean of abovementioned psychological tools. It is based on analytical description of part-time groups of psychological aid that accompany Ukrainian Armed Forces units in the battle area from the beginning of full-scale invasion; 5) the procedure for development of metaphorical association cards for psychological work with combatants of Ukrainian armed forces was created.

The authors of the article analyzed the guiding documents of the security forces of the security and defense sector of Ukraine regarding the conduct of professional and psychological selection of candidates for military service to protect the territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine. The concept of professional and psychological selection and its components are defined. The problems of the peculiarities of professional and psychological selection in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (National Guard of Ukraine, National Police of Ukraine, State Border Service of Ukraine, and State Service for Emergency Situations), Security Service of Ukraine, and Armed Forces of Ukraine are considered. An analytical review of the features of the professional and psychological selection of Ukrainian citizens to the security forces of the security and defense sector of Ukraine made it possible to draw the following conclusions. Professional and psychological selection in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine has both its general common features and a sufficient number of differences, borrowing at least some of them will make it possible to improve the quality of professional and psychological selection of candidates for service in these and other security forces. A feature of professional and psychological selection for the Security Service of Ukraine is the availability of methods aimed at diagnosing interpersonal relationships (the method for determining social intelligence, in other words, determining the ability to predict the consequences of the behavior of others, is worth paying attention to). Professional and psychological selection in the Armed Forces of Ukraine needs improvement, which is a difficult task, taking into account a large number of military accounting specialties, as well as large losses in units that need not only quick but also high-quality replenishment (taking into account the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine.