Abstract. The article is devoted to the role of the facilitation approach in the formation of cadets’ critical thinking at higher educational institutions of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. In the architectonics of the modern military educational process, it is necessary to develop critical thinking among future officers – defenders of the Fatherland as a guarantor of a high level of professionalism and competence. It is shown that the facilitation approach can act as a necessary condition for successful professional activity and formation of spiritual and moral foundations of personality. The features of the technology of pedagogical facilitation are revealed. The experience of using some methods within the framework of the facilitation approach in the process of training cadets is described. 

Keywords: facilitation approach, critical thinking, military pedagogical process, cadet, teacher