This article deals with the problem of formation of professional communicative competence of cadets in the departmental institution in the process of self-education. The aim of this work is to prove that one of the conditions of efficiency of process of self-education of students is their active participation in research activities. For realization of research tasks the following methods of research were used: the analysis and generalization of pedagogical, methodical literature on the work problem; the synthesis of pedagogical experience. On the basis of Perm Institute of the Federal Penal Service of Russia the author the author describes forms of research activity of cadets, which are used in the educational process and in extracurricular time. The author suggests forming professional communicative competence, not only within the discipline «Russian language and Standard of Speech», but also to include the communicative blocks of profile orientation in the cycles of General and professional disciplines, and program practices in the framework of implementation of the basic educational program. This is due to the fact that other linguistic disciplines (except «Russian language and Standard of Speech») aimed at building these competencies in the training plan. The author describes in detail the process of development of communicative competence of cadets by organizing their research work. The article suggests exercises that develop the readiness of cadets to communication in the scientific field.