Aim: To investigate the mental cognitive processes and intellectual working capacity of cadets who were engaged in different types of physical activities. Materials and Methods: The research involved 346 male cadets aged 20-22 years who were engaged in different types of physical activities (orienteering, military pentathlon, polyathlon, hand-to-hand combat, kettlebell lifting, crossfit, arm-wrestling, powerlifting, sports games). Research methods: theoretical analysis and generalization of literary sources, psychodiagnostic testing, and methods of mathematical statistics. Psychodiagnostic testing involved the use of a set of techniques to assess the basic mental cognitive processes (attention, memory, thinking) and intellectual working capacity of cadets. Results: The positive effect of different types of physical activities on the mental cognitive processes and intellectual working capacity in cadets was estab lished. According to most of the studied parameters, the indicators of cadets engaged in orienteering were significantly (p.0.05-0.001) better than those of the representatives of other sports. This is due to the specifics of the sport, which involves intense intellectual activity and requires a high level of development of such mental cognitive processes as attention, memory, and thinking, as well as intellectual working capacity. Conclusions: The results obtained allow us to conclude that orienteering training can have a positive effect on both the indicators of cadets’ academic and their future professional and combat activities.