IN SEPTEMBER press service internal troops The Ministry of Internal Affairs will present a new documentary film "On the verge of the possible". The picture is about three servicemen who decided to test themselves in qualification tests for the right to wear maroon beret. This is a special insignia of special forces, a symbol of courage, honor and dignity. "SG" learned the details about the filming of the film and along the way trained with the fighters, who this fall are preparing to win their own badges of one of the highest honors.
12 kilometers of overcoming
These guys are the future elite of the special forces. Indeed, over the 20 years of the existence of the ritual, only about 800 people in our country managed to get into the cohort of the elite. The attitude to the main attribute - the maroon headdress - is extremely careful: according to tradition, no one except the owner has the right to take it in hand.
To get a maroon beret, you need to go through a certain training system, Vladimir Porhomtsev, head of the press service of the internal troops, instructs me. It takes several months. Result-oriented fighters start training on their own in advance. No one forces - everyone decides for himself. At the "zero" stage, those who have not passed the standards and have not passed through health are eliminated. The rest of the tests take only two days. How everything happens, we will see in practice in the training center of the internal troops "Volovshchina". It is here that in the last five years the guys have taken their main exam.
While the future "berets" at the start - in the literal and figurative sense. The morning began for the fourth company of the 3rd separate brigade special purpose internal troops (military unit 3214) five-kilometer cross. The fighters were not allowed to rest for a long time: almost immediately they began to work out the start of the hundred-meter race from a prone position with weapons. Those who decide to apply for a beret need to go through four main stages of testing, and the combined march to the area of the special operation is only the beginning of a full twelve-kilometer “track”.
Spetsnaz slides
Senior shooter of the 2nd squad of the 1st platoon of the 4th special-purpose company of military unit 3214 Alexander Kotsko from the village of Lunno, Mostovsky district for nine months military service did not lose his enthusiasm. Every day, he says, he feels stronger. The main thing you have to fight with is your own “I can’t”. His colleague, assistant grenade launcher of the same unit, Pavel Leshchov from the village of Paluzh-1, Krasnopolsky district, admits that this work is at the limit:
Marching is not an ordinary cross. In addition to uniforms, a soldier is wearing a 10-kilogram body armor, a helmet, a machine gun ... And such a fact - during the tests in April, when the film "On the Edge of the Possible" was filmed, the soldiers sometimes managed to run faster than the cameramen got to the point of filming by car! In addition to one and a half kilometers of “special forces slides” with sharp ups and downs, you have to force a pond, climbing into it up to your chest. The deputy commander of the 1st platoon of the 4th special forces company of the military unit, Yuri Vyazhevich, accompanying us, recalls that during his surrender to the maroon beret, the reservoir was covered with a thin crust of ice ... But the sergeant, who, by the way, also comes from countryside- the village of Partizansky, Vileyka district, says that at that moment he did not think about it. There is only one thought - to reach the end. On the way to the obstacle course for about 700 meters, the soldiers ran down the stream in knee-deep water.
You can get burned on the simplest, - Yuri shares his experience. - It seems that you shoot every day, but one awkward movement - you missed, and you leave the test.
It is noteworthy that, on average, only one candidate out of ten really manages to pass. One of the "stumbling blocks" can be a kilometer-long obstacle course. The head of the press service of the internal troops demonstrates all its elements - here is the best that is used in the preparation of special forces different countries world with which ours exchange experience. Only in a bunch of fighters for minimum time they wade through wheels on chains, storm three-meter walls and get to the second floor of a burning building, balance over a fire on a red-hot metal pipe ... Watching their work, you feel like on the set of a Hollywood blockbuster, superheroes act so quickly, technically and clearly. However, we will not overpraise in advance - so far this is only a training session. During the decisive competition for the title of "nettle" the conditions are as close as possible to combat conditions: the training ground is shrouded in smoke, the "decorations" are engulfed in fire, deafening explosives, shots are heard.
The very last obstacle before the firing lines is the "mousetrap". Putting on a gas mask, you need to crawl in the smoke under a barbed fence to the exit, on the way there are sharp stones. About one of them, Yuri Vyazhevich injured his leg during the test, but had to clench his teeth and move on. An automatic rifle is scribbling over you with live ammunition - there is no time for jokes. It is not surprising that no one in the battalion smokes - iron health is needed here. Having got out and tore off the "chemical protection", the fighter shouts: "Glory to the special forces!" At the nearest turn, his machine gun should fire. By the way, you will have to shoot at targets with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a machine gun and a pistol.
Ahead is another 12 minutes of the battle with the owners of maroon berets. However, in order to reach this test, already on the first day, applicants have to demonstrate at least 15 hand-to-hand combat techniques and test their skills in sparring among themselves. Refined boys who are afraid of pain can't do that.
Finally, everything is behind you - you are accepted into the Maroon Brotherhood. Yuri Vyazhevich says that it was the moment of receiving the symbol of this victory over oneself that became the most memorable of the epic tests. He got it right the first time. It is noteworthy that in the April competitions, out of 137 people, only 35 reached the finish line. The villagers we met dream of repeating the success of the deputy platoon commander. After all, in fact, this is a pass to serve in the best special forces of the country and the start of a career for real men.
BEHIND THE SCENES
The chief director, editor and screenwriter of the film "On the Edge of the Possible" Sergei Lebedev watched the training of the fighters with us. Filmmakers during the filming was sometimes no easier than the soldiers. In particular, the cameraman Alisa Selishcheva tried to keep up with the heroes of the film on the march with a 14-kilogram camera. She succeeded. Another cameraman, Georgy Bizyuk, is currently serving in the 4th special forces company of military unit 3214. During filming, he overcame the forced march twice so as not to miss the emotions of the military personnel who were observed by the camera. There were some incidents: in one place, the fighters simply did not reach the spectacular shooting point, where the lens was, having turned earlier - their commander slightly changed the route. The camera with the effect of slow motion made it possible to achieve an amazing result - the actions of the fighters look truly epic, almost like in the notorious Hollywood films. Every movement, muscle tension, overcoming weakness - everything is not simulated, but real. By the way, the creators of "On the Edge of the Possible" decided not to stop at the documentary. The plans are to shoot a feature film for the 100th anniversary of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2017.
The exact date of the presentation of the film and the TV channel where it will be shown are still unknown, but the tape can be seen on the Internet. And the same conscript operator Georgy Bizyuk himself was eager to test himself for the right to wear a maroon beret.
If the nettle sees that you are walking in a dark red beret, in the language of special forces - in maroon, you will be unhappy: they wear it only with military uniform clothes. If you are dressed like a civilian, it means that something is wrong with you, these are not drunk airborne officers for you - this is how the special forces answer the question of whether it is possible to buy a maroon beret in a store. Sib.fm correspondent attended a qualifying exam for the right to wear this branded headdress.
Are you going to write about special forces?
Just don’t need girlish materials later, okay? The military, they don't like snot, got it?
At 7:10 in the morning we are standing near the gate with a checkpoint in front of the Iskitim training center of the Novosibirsk Military Institute of Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. Today, 44 servicemen who want to earn the right to wear a maroon beret will be running, getting wet, crawling, gritting their teeth and machine guns. A dandy piece of red felt for us civilians. And a sign of valor, honor, courage, the highest vocational training and something that even the nettles themselves cannot accurately convey in words, but for the sake of which they are ready to fight to a bloody mess instead of a face.
Applicants for maroon beret-2011 lined up on the parade ground. One journalist notices that the held nettles, who stand nearby, look not only more confident, but also several times larger than those who are just about to take the exam.
But they will beat them in the end! she exclaims.
The owners of dark red berets are the elite of the special forces. They are fit, stern, but, in general, looking forward to a good day. Many of them, as instructors, will run alongside those passing the forced march. And then they will force the already exhausted candidates to do push-ups and crawl like a plastuna.
And when they, wheezing and swearing, fall on the wet ground, the nettles will command: “Now shout: I love special forces!” They will scream. And then they run again.
The first stage of the competition is a cross-country march "with the solution of tactical introductory." It starts with a ford. The commandos, already a little out of breath, run up to the river and, raising their weapons up, go into the water
When the tradition of "berets" was just being introduced, qualification tests were carried out illegally
Run, I said! Raise your legs up! We run, we don't walk! Weapons up! - instructors command from the shore.
Do not soak the machine - this is important. After a forced march, a burning obstacle course and the liberation of a village captured by terrorists, it will be necessary to make a control shot from a regular weapon. The one whose machine gun does not shoot can say goodbye to the dream of a maroon beret. At least until the next qualification test.
One kid's machine gun didn't go off last year. The weapon appears to be wet. And he himself is all tired, barely standing. He understands that all the torment was in vain, and I see that tears will now roll from him, ”says a woman who has been coming for tests for more than a year.
We were promised that after a march of 12 kilometers with full uniform, which weighs more than twenty kilograms, less than half of the 44 people will remain. And they will not run, but crawl. But then they showed up: only a couple of people were behind, and they were no further than three meters. Many hardly take their feet off the ground, their faces are covered in mud, but they all move quite cheerfully.
Don't give up, run! - screaming nettle instructors.
Colonel Mikhail Illarionov, deputy head of the intelligence department of the internal troops, says that three years ago, most people went on a forced march. Now they have become more enduring - 13 people out of 44 left the distance.
There are explosions all around. Everyone flinches. Only huge, severe nettles do not flinch. But even on their faces, barely noticeable movements are visible, which indicate that the explosions are real. Almost.
The most spectacular part of the tests began - the fiery obstacle course. Smoke, explosions: special forces move in groups, covering each other.
A complete feeling that you are fine ... okay, not in the war, but in a movie about the war - that's for sure. Unless you can see the enemies. Only green rockets with a piercing whistle seem to burst out of the ground. The instructors follow every step of the fighters, and noticing the slightest mistake, they are removed from the “battlefield”.
I said, let's move in dashes! Are you deaf? Cover up! - those who will soon accept new commandos "for especially complex special operations" into their ranks are tearing their voices. It is customary to shout at your own people very strongly. Because he takes it on the line, and the nettles don’t want to be where everything is for real, next to the guy who is now sitting down to rest in the middle of the “battle” or forgot to check if there are militants outside the door.
The tradition of the “marked beret” is in the special forces of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
Here are those who have already been in a real war: only active special forces are allowed to qualify for qualification tests. In this case, the service life should be at least a year. in Iskitim The educational center 53 candidates arrived after a rigorous pre-selection. In the morning there was the last medical examination, and there were 44 candidates for berets.
Here the fighters "fight" only with themselves, - explains the chairman of the council of maroon berets of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Colonel Medvedev. - The standard is known, the conditions are known - please comply. The peculiarity of this year is one thing - we have tightened the requirements for candidates, we are paying more and more attention to admission to the tests themselves, we are weeding out many at the preliminary selections. So random people not here, everyone is very prepared.
This year, not everyone fired a machine gun, and 30 fighters are already marching to the third stage - shooting. They are given time to clean their weapons. In addition to the need to put machine guns on alert for the guys, this is also an opportunity to take a break. I come closer.
Is there water? And something sweet: sweets, sugar? Well, anything? - the future harsh nettles ask me. I scold myself for not being prepared: I could have taken a chocolate bar.
But here the instructors recall the test subjects:
What sat down? Are you tired?!
After the shooting, the time comes for the stage, which is called the "high-rise" - you need to take the high-rise building by storm. Members of the special forces put on climbing systems with a trigger, receive a grenade and cartridges and climb onto the roof of a three-story building.
Maroon beret is worn only by those military personnel who are worthy this right according to their professional, physical and moral qualities
In 25 seconds, on the command "Storm!" they must go down the rope to the first window from above, hover and fire automatic bursts at it. Then go down to the lower window, knock out the plywood that is blocking it, throw a grenade there and have time to run to the judges' table. For everything about everything - less than 30 seconds, then a grenade will explode.
One of the participants slows down for a fraction of a second before starting to move from the first window, catches up, but then, already on the ground, for a long time cannot unfasten the "rappel" from the rope, runs to the judges' table, knocks him down without calculating the distance, and falls on the grass . His result is 26 seconds. He did not pass the test.
There are 13 fighters left. Two women in white coats are walking towards the field with large bags of medicines and dressings.
It will start now, the doctors say.
In the Russian army, the weakest part of training in the internal troops is the psychological readiness for action, Colonel Illarionov answers the question of how close the qualification tests are to combat conditions.
It is very difficult for us to simulate the situation of military operations, when real bullets whistle, real legs come off.
But we are simulating this psychological situation by hand-to-hand combat, - continues Illarionov. - In fact, this is the most accessible and most effective means of preparation. And the "hand-to-hand" is as close as possible to combat conditions.
Plays the march "Farewell of the Slav". The subjects have already demonstrated a set of acrobatic exercises and hand-to-hand combat with and without weapons. Now they put on the elements of protection to start hand-to-hand combat. They are waiting for 12 minutes of continuous combat, half of which the guys have to fight with nettles. There will be nothing "pretend" - if suddenly the candidate "fills up" the nettle, then he will be deprived of his beret. Six minutes is very little. A change at the university in five minutes is like blinking once. Six minutes against the nettle, even to those who watched the military boxing from the side, seemed endless.
What are you sitting?! Come on, come on! Raise your hands! Give - work! - the elders shout to their wards, whom the instructors - any minute and practically without straining - will be sent to a bloody knockout.
They say that before it was enough just to stand your minutes of battle. Now, if you do not answer, they will be removed from the tests “for passivity”.
Also, a maroon beret can be obtained for courage and bravery during hostilities and special operations.
Instructors who went to battle in only T-shirts and gloves do not feel real danger and give candidates the opportunity not only to defend themselves, but also to hit first. This is the last test. There are only a few minutes left before the beret, which must be won back, so encouragement, obscenities, calls, names, mats again are heard from all sides - everything that will help the “young” not pay attention to their bloody snot for a few more minutes.
Instructor assault group units "Bars" Grigory Kobelev from Angarsk received a maroon beret in May 2007, and this year he already brought two fighters for testing. One of them in 15 minutes will receive a well-deserved maroon beret from the hands of Colonel Medvedev.
Two could have passed, but one second at the high altitude was not enough, - says senior sergeant Kobelev. - I ran the whole distance next to them, tried to keep them up, cheered them up. Now, of course, praised, and so - I'm strict. Indulgence in this matter is generally impossible. One of the two passed - I think that this is a good indicator.
Maroon berets are not shown to anyone before the presentation ceremony. Journalists every year ask to film how the berets are stored in the safe, and try to find out how many there are. But every year they are told: "It is impossible." Not allowed, not accepted.
No one should touch the beret, except for the chairman of the council of maroon berets and the owner himself.
A person has earned the right to wear a beret, but does not wear it just like that - every six months you need to confirm this right, passing the standards for at least “good,” says Colonel Illarionov. - And for a decrease in the level of training, a beret can be lost. So it was in May of this year in Ufa with one serviceman.
Maroon beret is not replaced with a new one. The more worn it is, the steeper
According to Illarionov, 25-30% of the subjects pass the tough exam the first time. There are people who give up three, five and even ten times. For the second time, almost everyone tries to pass the test, and then there are fewer and fewer applicants.
Sergei Gurkov from Kazan is the last to receive a beret today. All 12 minutes of hand-to-hand combat, he fought one on one with an active nettle.
Very, very hard, - says Sergey, but still smiles - lips swollen from blows. - I pass for the third time. The goal has been reached. Beret for me is a matter of honor.
Has something changed in you?
Everything has changed.
They, now washed and ironed, are handed maroon berets in turn. Men kneel, kiss a piece of burgundy fabric, put a beret on their heads, tilting to the left. Then they get up, put their hand to their temples and shout so that the sound reaches the Iskitim quarry: “I serve Russian Federation and special forces!
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And they have such faces, as if now everything in their life will radically change for the better. Meanwhile, the maroon beret does not give its owner any privileges over the rest of the military: no increase in salary, no promotion, or any other special relationship. And tomorrow, many of them will again go on their hot business trips.
Guys in maroon berets have recently become a symbol of the internal troops of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs troops.
This is the military special forces.
The best of the best.
What qualities should a soldier of the military elite have?
How is the educational process built in special forces units?
Colonel Valery Chumakov, officer of the Intelligence Directorate of the Main Staff of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, is a holder of the Order of Courage and other military awards, a participant in many special operations, discussing this topic. Of the twelve years of his service in the special forces detachment of the Russian Interior Ministry "Rus", for several years he served as deputy commander of the group, and then the detachment for working with personnel. Valery is a believer, an Orthodox Christian.
SECRET WEAPON OF SWAT
In my opinion, a candidate for spetsnaz, first of all, must be able to endure. This, it would seem, is a purely peaceful quality for a special forces officer, because the service requires daily hard work and diligence from him. If, along with optimal physical data, young man there is an inner readiness to endure difficulties, then everything else will follow. Whoever thinks otherwise will not stay long in spetsnaz.
There are no easy days here. A beginner is waiting for increasing loads, which at times may seem unbearable and even prohibitive. But this is not so: the entire system of education and upbringing is based on mutual assistance, designed to collectively overcome difficulties - with a partner or as part of a unit.
We are preparing not single superheroes, but warriors, whose full strength is revealed in the team and through the team.
And although representatives of various nationalities serve in the special forces, there are practically no frictions on interethnic grounds here. For the period of service, everyone becomes "soldiers of the Russian special forces", performing one task - the defense of Russia. That is why the commando is invincible, that he is a Russian warrior in spirit, the heir to the miraculous heroes of Suvorov, Bagration's grenadiers, tank heroes in the battle of Prokhorovka.
Another key moral quality for a commando is his willingness to take risks that border on self-sacrifice. Is a person ready for the fact that when the violated justice is restored, he may lose his health or even life? Psychological tests here sometimes powerless. Will the guy be able to go out against the unbridled hooligans, stand up for the girl? If at least at the subconscious level he is ready to do just that, he will become a special forces fighter.
I always preferred to take believers into my unit, into the detachment. Practice shows that they are more responsible, more mature, well acquainted with the concept and meaning of sacrifice. The more religious a person is, the easier it is to work with him. With pleasure we also take on the service those who worked before the army in various military-patriotic clubs, search squads. There, the children are instilled with the skills we need, a sense of love for the Motherland. Unfortunately, there are not as many of these guys as we would like!
So, from the alloy of physical endurance and psychological stability, the spiritual core of the fighter’s inner readiness to overcome any difficulties and self-sacrifice takes on the desired shape and is tempered. These qualities are, in fact, our secret weapon, the “reserve of the Headquarters”. And as long as we have hardy and noble guys who are ready to serve the Fatherland, there will be special forces, there will be Russia itself.
THE RIGHT HEROES OF THE RUSSIAN SPECIAL FORCE
It is very difficult to discern a person with such qualities, therefore, in the process of studying young recruits or candidates for contract service, people are obviously put in a situation where they have to somehow choose, decide: me or the team. They are constantly monitored by sergeants and officers, psychologists work. Human behavior, his reaction to various stimuli, the motivation of actions, the ability to quickly navigate in different situations independently and as part of the unit are carefully studied, analyzed and evaluated. Here every stroke is important, every little thing, the most “unimportant” detail.
In the educational process, we deliberately distance ourselves from the stereotypes of the behavior of lone heroes like Rambo, widely promoted in the media. This image is alien to us, because it carries the spirit of selfishness and pragmatism. Such a soldier will not risk his life for the sake of a common victory, for the sake of achieving the success of the plan of the entire operation, for the sake of saving someone's life, if he himself is not at the center of the event, he will not be its main character. Even having become a professional in his field, he is subconsciously programmed to work exclusively for himself, for his personal authority or image.
The team for him is a gray mass, against which his abilities and talents should only be more clearly manifested. He needs comrades only for extras, in order to help him accomplish a personal feat, which should be followed by awards and laurels of the winner, public recognition. He is incapable of dying somewhere far from telesoffits and flashlights, in blood and mud, following the order of "only" a platoon commander.
But the overall success of the operation very often depends on the precise implementation on the ground of such unimportant, at first glance, tasks. So it was in Budennovsk, in Pervomaisky, in Beslan. To deliver zinc with ammunition under enemy fire, from the point of view of a lone hero, is a rough, absolutely not spectacular and thankless job. In fact, ammunition brought in time can affect the outcome of the battle, save someone's life. That is how Sergeant Oleg Dolgov died during a special operation in the Dagestan village of Pervomaiskoye. He was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia.
Yes, a feat is accomplished individually, but the readiness to accomplish it, imbibed by a soldier with mother's milk, is further developed and matures already in a team. Suvorov's order: "Die yourself, but help a comrade out!" was and remains the main motto of the Russian special forces. A selfish person with a “superhero” complex is not capable of doing a real act. So the guys who dream of serving in the special forces should first try to find the answer to the question “What am I living for?” - and choose the right guidelines in life.
DATE WITH DEATH: THE EARLIER THE BETTER
The work of special forces is associated not only with extreme physical difficulties, but also with psychological overload, and a soldier, especially a professional, must be prepared for this. One of the important elements educational process, incorporated into the program of combat training of special forces, is a visit to criminal morgues. The contact of a soldier with death, that is, with what he may face tomorrow in battle, is an important moment in the psychological hardening of a commando.
He must adequately perceive all aspects of life, learn to respond correctly to the dead body of an enemy, hostage or comrade: do not panic at the same time, do not be scared, taking everything in cold blood, as a natural reality. Overcoming yourself at this stage is no less important than overcoming fear, landing on the go from a helicopter or descending from a high-rise building.
Anything can happen in a war, and it is not uncommon for our soldiers to carry their dead comrades or what is left of them from the battlefield. This is a tough show. When conflicting feelings struggle in a person: pity for a dead comrade, disgust for his mutilated body and fear for his life, he must make the only right choice. In special forces, there is a long tradition, dating back to Afghanistan: not to leave the body of a dead comrade on the battlefield. This is an important psychological point. People are more willing to go into battle, knowing that in any case, their body will not be left to be desecrated by the enemy.
Not everyone goes through such a "date with death", but without this important element, it is impossible to continue talking about professionalism in special forces. And here the help of the Church with her teaching about death, about the attitude towards the dead body is very important; the presence of commandos at funerals, participation in the regular liturgical commemoration of their dead fellow soldiers.
NAME, HONOR AND MARKED BERET
The special forces education system is based on the ideas of devotion to the traditions of the detachment and the continuity of generations. Without this, it is perhaps impossible to grow up a real special forces soldier, for whom the meaning of service in the detachment is in many respects identical to the meaning of life. After all, this is not empty bravado when, encouraged by the command, a special forces soldier adds to the statutory “I serve the Fatherland ...” from the bottom of his heart: “... and special forces!”
A soldier needs to develop a sense of pride in belonging to special forces, devotion to his squad. Everyone should realize that he has been given a great honor by serving in the elite of the troops, and cherish this. Such feelings usually arise in a soldier from contact with the living history of the detachment: veterans and authoritative military personnel - the keepers of traditions, bearers of officer and special forces honor.
The commando must learn that all his victories are the merit of the team in which he serves. It is solely to him that he owes all his achievements. And this in no way diminishes the importance of each soldier as an independent person, but, on the contrary, enriches it, helps it to fully open up. He must also remember that any misconduct committed by him is a stain on the entire detachment, dishonoring not only himself, but also all active, serving and dead officers and soldiers. In this freedom of choice, the moral maturity of a special forces soldier is manifested.
The special forces have their own shrines, values and traditions, the destruction of which will lead to a weakening fighting spirit. These include the name of the detachment, its battle banner, symbols, the memory of the dead and, of course, the maroon beret. Through these concepts and familiar names, the honor of the commando is formed, which he begins to cherish. And the more strongly and sincerely the servicemen, including officers, the command of the detachment, believe in these shrines, the more they are honor and glory for them, the stronger and higher the morale in the detachment, the greater the devotion to service.
People must believe in what they serve, in what they will go into battle for and be ready to lay down their lives for.
Any falsehood, underestimation of seeming "trifles", oblivion of traditions, commercialism in relations cause irreparable damage to the cause. This leads to the emasculation of the idea, undermines faith in its holiness, and devastates the soul.
Contract servicemen should also be educated on the same enduring values and principles, since no money can ever replace what gives a person an awareness of unity and solidarity based on common spiritual values.
COMMANDER OF THE SPECIAL FORCE: WORD AND DEED
One of the most important conditions for serving in special forces is the establishment of reliable and strong ties between the commander and subordinates. The soldier must believe the commander so much, his every word, so as not for a minute to doubt the correctness of his decision. And the commander must be completely confident in his soldier, that he will fulfill the order. If necessary, at the cost of your life.
If the commander says the most correct things, but is in no hurry to confirm them with deeds, people will immediately feel this falsehood. There will be a destruction of trusting relationships, their formalization, which is unacceptable for special forces. The worst thing is if people stop believing in the commander, they don't give their best in class, they start taking care of themselves and feeling sorry for themselves in battle. They will begin to talk about the meaning of the order, about the expediency of its implementation, about the inevitable victims. This will lead to hesitation, loss of time, failure of the task, and most often - to unjustified losses. Special forces can only work on trust in each other, otherwise everything will turn into the collapse of the cause they serve.
The commander's word is of great value when the commander is an authority for his subordinates, a highly trained professional, capable of deeds, of dedication. Captain Igor M. during the competition for the best special forces platoon, in order not to lose precious points, went to the march distance with a temperature of 40 and completely passed it together with the platoon. He alone knows what it cost him. With such a commander, subordinates will take on any of the most difficult and dangerous combat missions without a moment's hesitation, just because they saw him in action.
VIVAT, SWAT!
If a soldier has served worthily in a special forces detachment, then, having retired to the reserve, he will retain the high moral qualities acquired by him here for the rest of his life. Cast from an alloy of courage, honor and dignity, the steel rod, which was mentioned above, will protect him from falling, will become his faithful support for life. After all, most of the special forces reserve soldiers are worthy people. This is confirmed by the same media reaction to a crime committed by some former commando. It is presented as a sensation, which means it is a relatively rare occurrence.
The spetsnaz brotherhood is a reality. What compels dozens of people from all over the country every year to celebrate the anniversary of the detachment? What makes them, after many years, remember the words once spoken to them by their commander? After all, they keep them in their hearts, so for them it is sacred! We have no power over them, and we can no longer add anything more to what was once given to them. But they still come.
In order to communicate, remember the past, see and hug each other. So, for them it is expensive and important. This is part of their life. It is not for nothing that the younger brothers of many of our soldiers, who have grown up, strive to get into “their” detachment. It is a great honor for them. And this is already an example of feedback: the return, the return of what was once invested in our soldiers.
I think that I have exhaustively answered the question posed: “What qualities should a commando have?”
Is it just a special forces officer?
In my opinion, and a citizen.
Recorded by lieutenant colonel
Roman ILYUSHCHENKO
In my opinion, a candidate for special forces must first of all be able to endure. This, it would seem, is a purely peaceful quality for a special forces officer, because the service requires daily hard work and diligence from him. If, along with optimal physical data, a young person has an inner willingness to endure difficulties, then everything else will follow. Whoever thinks otherwise will not stay long in spetsnaz.
SECRET WEAPON OF SWAT
There are no easy days here. A beginner is waiting for increasing loads, which at times may seem insurmountable and even prohibitive. But this is not so: the entire system of education and upbringing is based on mutual assistance, designed to collectively overcome difficulties - with a partner or as part of a unit.
We are not preparing single superheroes, but warriors, whose full strength is revealed in the team and through the team. And although representatives of various nationalities serve in the special forces, there are practically no frictions on an interethnic basis here.
For the period of service, they all become "soldiers of the Russian special forces", performing one task - the defense of Russia. That is why the commando is invincible, that he is a Russian warrior in spirit, the heir to the miraculous heroes of Suvorov, Bagration's grenadiers, tank heroes in the battle of Prokhorovka.
Another key moral quality for a commando is his willingness to take risks, bordering on self-sacrifice. Is a person ready for the fact that when the violated justice is restored, he may lose his health or even life? Psychological tests are sometimes powerless here. Will the guy be able to go out against the unbridled hooligans, stand up for the girl? If at least at the subconscious level he is ready to do just that, he will become a special forces fighter.
I always preferred to take believers into my unit, into the unit. Practice shows that they are more responsible, more mature, familiar with the concept and meaning of sacrifice. The more religious a person is, the easier it is to work with him. With pleasure we also take on the service those who worked before the army in various military-patriotic clubs, search squads. There, the children are instilled with the skills we need, a sense of love for the Motherland. Unfortunately, there are not as many of these guys as we would like!
So, from the alloy of physical endurance and psychological stability, the spiritual core of the fighter’s inner readiness to overcome any difficulties and self-sacrifice takes on the desired shape and is tempered. These qualities are, in fact, our secret weapon, the "reserve of the Headquarters." And as long as we have hardy and noble guys who are ready to serve the Fatherland, there will be special forces, there will be Russia itself.
HEROES OF THE RUSSIAN SPECIAL FORCE
It is very difficult to discern a person with such qualities, therefore, in the process of studying young recruits or candidates for contract service, people are obviously put in situations where they have to somehow choose, decide: me or the team. They are constantly monitored by sergeants and officers, psychologists work. A person's behavior, his reaction to various stimuli, the motivation of actions, the ability to quickly navigate in various situations independently and as part of a unit are carefully studied, analyzed and evaluated. Here every stroke is important, every little thing, the most "unimportant" detail.
In the educational process, we deliberately distance ourselves from the stereotypes of the behavior of lone heroes like Rambo, widely promoted in the media. This image is alien to us, because it carries the spirit of selfishness and pragmatism. Such a soldier will not risk his life for the sake of a common victory, for the sake of achieving the success of the plan of the entire operation, for the sake of saving someone's life, if he himself is not at the center of the event, he will not become its main character. Even after becoming a professional, he is subconsciously programmed to work exclusively for himself, for his personal authority or image. The team for him is a gray mass, against which his abilities and talents should only be more clearly manifested. He needs comrades only for extras, in order to help him accomplish his feat, which should be followed by awards and laurels of the winner, public recognition. He is incapable of dying somewhere far from telesoffits and flashlights, in blood and mud, following the order of "only" a platoon commander.
But the overall success of the operation very often depends precisely on the precise implementation on the ground of such seemingly unimportant tasks. So it was in Budennovsk, Pervomaisky, Beslan. From the point of view of a lone hero, delivering ammunition to surrounded comrades under enemy fire is a rough, absolutely unspectacular and thankless job. In fact, ammunition brought in time can affect the outcome of the battle, save someone's life. That is how Sergeant Oleg Dolgov died during a special operation in the Dagestan village of Pervomaiskoye. He was posthumously awarded the title Hero of Russia.
Yes, a feat is accomplished individually, but the readiness to accomplish it, imbibed by a soldier with mother's milk, is further developed and matures already in a team. Suvorov's order: "Die yourself, but rescue a comrade!" - was and remains the main motto of the Russian special forces. A selfish person with a "superhero" complex is not capable of doing a real act. So the guys who dream of serving in the special forces should first try to find the answer to the question of what I live for and choose the right guidelines in life.
"DATE" WITH DEATH: THE EARLIER, THE BETTER
The work of special forces is associated not only with extreme physical difficulties, but also with psychological overload, and a soldier, especially a professional, must be prepared for this. One of the important elements of the educational process included in the special forces combat training program is visiting criminal morgues. The contact of a soldier with death, that is, with what he may face tomorrow in battle, is an important moment in the psychological hardening of a commando. He must adequately perceive all aspects of life, learn to respond correctly to the dead body of an enemy, hostage or comrade: do not panic at the same time, do not be afraid, perceiving it in cold blood, as a natural reality. Overcoming yourself at this stage is no less important than overcoming fear, landing on the go from a helicopter or descending from a high-rise building.
Anything can happen in a war, and it is not uncommon for our soldiers to carry their dead comrades or what is left of them from the battlefield. This is a tough show. When conflicting feelings struggle in a person: pity for a dead comrade, disgust for his mutilated body and fear for his life, he must make the only right choice. In special forces, there is a long tradition, dating back to Afghanistan: not to leave the body of a dead comrade on the battlefield. It has an important psychological moment. People are more willing to go into battle, knowing that in any case, their body will not be left to be desecrated by the enemy.
Not everyone goes through such a "date" with death, but without this important element it is impossible to continue talking about professionalism in special forces. And here the help of the Church with its teaching about death, about the attitude towards the dead body and the participation of special forces in the funeral rite, the regular liturgical commemoration of their dead brother-soldiers, is very important.
SHARES OF SPECIAL FORCE - NAME, HONOR AND MARKED BERET
The special forces education system is based on the ideas of devotion to the traditions of the detachment and the continuity of generations. Without this, it is perhaps impossible to grow up a real special forces soldier, for whom the meaning of service in the detachment is in many respects identical to the meaning of life. After all, this is not empty bravado when a special forces soldier, encouraged by the command, adds to the statutory "I serve the Fatherland ..." from the bottom of his heart: "... and special forces!"
A soldier needs to develop a sense of pride for belonging to special forces, devotion to his squad. Everyone should be aware that he has been given a great honor by serving in the elite of the troops, and cherish this. Such feelings usually arise in a soldier from contact with the living history of the detachment: veterans and authoritative military personnel - the keepers of traditions, bearers of officer and special forces honor.
The commando must learn that all his victories are the merit of the team in which he serves. It is solely to him that he owes all his achievements. And this in no way diminishes the importance of each soldier as an independent person, but, on the contrary, enriches, helps to fully open up. He must also remember that any misconduct committed by him is a stain on the entire detachment, dishonoring not only himself, but also all active, serving and dead officers and soldiers. In this freedom of choice, the moral maturity of a special forces soldier is manifested.
The special forces have their own shrines, values and traditions, the destruction of which will lead to a weakening of the fighting spirit. These include the name of the detachment, its battle banner, symbols, the memory of the dead and, of course, the maroon beret. Through these concepts and familiar names, the honor of the commando is formed, which he begins to cherish. And the more strongly and sincerely the servicemen, including officers, the command of the detachment, believe in these shrines, the more they are honor and glory for them, the stronger and higher the morale in the detachment, the greater the devotion to service. People must believe in what they serve, in what they will go into battle to lay "their stomachs" for. Any falsehood, underestimation of seeming "trifles", oblivion of traditions, commercialism in relations cause irreparable damage to the cause. This leads to the emasculation of the idea, undermines faith in its holiness, and devastates the soul.
Contract servicemen should also be brought up on the same enduring values and principles, since no amount of money can ever replace what gives a person an awareness of unity and solidarity based on common spiritual values.
COMMANDER OF THE SPECIAL FORCE: WORD AND DEED
One of the most important conditions for serving in special forces is the establishment of reliable and strong ties between the commander and subordinates. The soldier must believe the commander, his every word, so that he does not doubt for a minute the correctness of his decision. And the commander must be completely confident in his soldier, that he will fulfill the order. If necessary, at the cost of your life.
If the commander says the most correct things, but is in no hurry to confirm them with deeds, people immediately feel this falsity. There will be a destruction of trusting relationships, their formalization, which is unacceptable for special forces. The worst thing is if people stop believing in the commander, they don't give their best in class, they start taking care of themselves and feeling sorry for themselves in battle. They will begin to talk about the meaning of the order, about the expediency of its implementation, about the inevitable victims. This will lead to hesitation, loss of time, failure of the task, and most often - to unjustified losses. Special forces can only work on trust in each other, otherwise everything will turn into the collapse of the cause they serve.
The commander's word is of great value when the commander is an authority for his subordinates, a well-trained professional, capable of deeds, of dedication. Captain Igor M. during the competition for the best special forces platoon, in order not to lose precious points, went to the march distance with a 40-degree temperature and completely passed it together with the platoon. He alone knows what it cost him. With such a commander, subordinates will take on any, the most difficult and dangerous, combat mission, without a moment's hesitation, just because they saw him in action.
"SHORT-MADE" AND "FALSE HEROES" OF SPECIAL FORCE
I’m lying if I don’t say that there are also problem guys among the military personnel of the detachments. As they say, the family has its black sheep. So where do these people alien to the spirit of special forces come from?
With a well-established system of professional selection, they are eliminated from the special forces in the very first months of service. But, alas, mistakes happen here too, and people with "rottenness" in their souls continue to serve. Time passes, and the unit commander, faced with the need to select sergeants, without hesitation, suggests to one of them: "Petrov, are you ready to become a squad leader?" ...
This is how "precocious" ones appear in special forces. This is how I call people who, for some reason, were appointed to positions that do not correspond to their internal readiness. For a commando, the desire for career growth, the desire to make a career is natural and commendable, but in the interests of service, it is still better for some to remain gunners or drivers of armored personnel carriers. And when they hastily try to mold a good squad leader or a castle platoon commander from Petrov, most often it turns out the other way around. If morally immature person rapidly lift up, for him it does not pass without a trace. In divers, this is called decompression sickness.
And how do they sometimes become officers? Many of my former colleagues served for several years in the rank of ensign, and they were sent to study at junior officer training courses. After returning, they told how surprised they were when they met yesterday's conscript soldiers among fellow students who had served for only a year. How long will it take until such officers "ripen" to platoon commanders?
The principle of encouragement "according to the order" is also very harmful to the cause. Submit to any state awards and even it is necessary to award diplomas for specific results and only those people who deserve it. For example, those who actually took part in clashes, showed resourcefulness and courage, were wounded at the same time, or passed the final test "with excellent marks". Then the warrior corresponds to the status of the received award or announced promotion. Everyone sees that the worthy is rewarded. Justice triumphs. The educational effect is obvious.
Otherwise, the recipient gets the opportunity to consider himself worthy of encouragement, without having a moral right to do so. People are prone to self-delusion. And in this case, the level of exactingness to oneself is lowered, the threshold of self-criticism is lowered, dizziness from success appears: "Since I'm so good, isn't it time for me to take a break from outfits, field trips and other nonsense?" Further more. The ambitions and demands of the "hero" are growing by leaps and bounds, and the commanders themselves are to blame for this. A person should get exactly as much as he deserves. No less, but no more. The trouble is not that someone was encouraged in advance, but that they did it not on his dignity.
Any encouragement, awarding a soldier, promotion must be felt, deserved and suffered. Then from this there will be maximum return and real benefit. Otherwise, undeserved or easily obtained awards, stars or positions corrupt a person, ruin the whole business in the bud.
This can be seen in the example of the attitude towards the maroon beret. The right to wear it can be earned only at the cost of great effort and extreme stress, which characterizes its owner as a well-deserved, worthy person. It is impossible to get a maroon beret in advance. Therefore, any warrior who has this right will cherish it, remembering how he got it. In addition, there is a ritual of deprivation of a beret for acts that discredit the title of nettle. Believe me, it's very serious punishment for those who know his value.
VIVAT, SWAT!
If a soldier has served worthily in a special forces detachment, then, having retired to the reserve, he will retain the high moral qualities acquired by him here for the rest of his life. Cast from an alloy of courage, honor and dignity, the steel rod, which was mentioned above, will protect him from falling, will become his faithful support for life. After all, the majority of reserve special forces soldiers are worthy people. This is confirmed by the same media reaction to a crime committed by some former commando. It is presented as a sensation, which means it is a relatively rare occurrence.
The spetsnaz brotherhood is a reality. What compels dozens of people from all over the country every year to celebrate the anniversary of the detachment? What makes them, after many years, remember the words once spoken to them by their commander? After all, they keep them in their hearts, which means that it is sacred for them! We have no power over them, and we can no longer add anything more to what was once given to them. But they still come. In order to communicate, remember the past, see and hug each other. So, for them it is expensive and important. This is part of their life. It is not for nothing that the younger brothers of many of our soldiers who have grown up strive to get into "their" detachment. It is a great honor for them. And this is already an example of feedback: the return, the return of what was once invested in our soldiers.
I think that I have exhaustively answered the question of what qualities a commando should have. Is it just a special forces officer? In my opinion, and a citizen.