In our country, the Airborne Forces enjoy well-deserved respect and unfading glory. Not everyone falls to serve in them, but those who felt the power of the military brotherhood of "Uncle Vasya's troops" will never forget about it. But even among the Airborne Forces, intelligence is something special. Scouts are honored more than others, since the lives of all the soldiers participating in the operation often depend on their work.
Features of the intelligence units of the Airborne Forces
In Soviet times, it prescribed the participation of landing troops in offensive operations. In them, the elite of the Airborne Forces, intelligence, was supposed to provide only a more or less “smooth” landing, with minimal losses of personnel.
The tasks were assigned to them by the commander-in-chief of the district to which the corresponding formation was seconded. It was this person who was responsible for obtaining reliable and timely intelligence data. The headquarters of the Airborne Forces could order everything, up to satellite images of the proposed landing areas, complete descriptions of the captured objects (up to floor plans). GRU specialists were directly responsible for providing this data.
When did the fighters of the Airborne Forces get down to business? Intelligence began to work only after the landing, and supplied information exclusively to its units. And here we come to the most important thing: the Airborne Forces did not have an operational (!) intelligence service, no matter how paradoxical it may sound. This played a cruel joke on the paratroopers: when their units began to participate in local conflicts in the 80s, it immediately became clear that the current organization was no good.
Difficulties in obtaining information
Just imagine: practically all operational information (route, armament, equipment of the enemy) intelligence (!) received in the central apparatus of the KGB, in and even in the Ministry of Internal Affairs! Of course, in this state of affairs, no one was surprised by either poorly confirmed data or delays in obtaining them, and behind-the-scenes intrigues spoiled the landing party a lot of blood ...
Having suffered all the necessary information, the group flew to the landing site, studied the current situation on the spot, and immediately marked the route. Only after that did the data go to the commanders, on whom the intelligence of the Airborne Forces depended. "The bats » from the GRU, as far as possible, helped their colleagues, but their possibilities were not unlimited: some specific information could only be obtained by the paratroopers themselves.
Very often it happened that intelligence took the rap for themselves and for the main units: they not only paved the way for the group, but also constantly entered into fire contacts with the militants (which in itself is unacceptable in such conditions), made sure that they did not arrange provocations, literally "by the hand" led to the places of operations of the part of both the Airborne Forces and other military branches.
Due to high losses and unpreparedness to perform such specific tasks, a separate battalion was created in the early 1990s, which was tasked with carrying out operational intelligence activities. The same period includes the creation of all the necessary "infrastructure" necessary for the successful implementation of the tasks set by the command.
About technical equipment
How, technically, were the airborne troops equipped? Intelligence did not have anything particularly outstanding: for example, in Afghanistan, specialists had to make do with ordinary binoculars and artillery compasses. Only there they received some types of radar stations that were designed to detect moving targets, and it should be noted that Western intelligence officers used these “modern” devices for a very long time, which Afghan proved in many respects. Airborne reconnaissance in action is a terrible force, only the number of losses in a collision with a better equipped enemy was still large.
A real gift was a series of portable direction finders: "Aqualung-R/U/K". Unlike previously used equipment of this kind, this equipment made it possible to reliably detect radiation sources, the fighters got the opportunity to guaranteed interception of enemy communications on HF and VHF waves, as well as on frequencies traditionally used by airborne reconnaissance. "Bats", the GRU special forces, also highly appreciated this technique.
Veterans recall that this technique provided invaluable assistance in detecting bandit groups and gangs, which, before the Scuba gear was adopted, very often went along secret paths. The army command finally managed to convince the party elite to give the order to start creating a special reconnaissance vehicle designed specifically for the Airborne Forces, but the collapse of the Union prevented these plans from coming to fruition. In principle, the fighters were also satisfied with the Rheostat machine used until that time, which had good technical equipment.
The problem was that no weapons were placed on it, since initially it was intended for completely different purposes, which the airborne intelligence was not interested in. The Afghan once again proved that all (!) military equipment must have a regular weapon.
About what you didn't get
Despite the fact that the Afghan campaign clearly showed the vital need to equip reconnaissance units with weapons with laser target designation, it did not appear in the Airborne Forces (however, as in the entire SA). In fact, active army testing of such weapons began in the Union from the mid-80s, but there was one subtlety here. The fact is that "homing" does not mean the presence of intelligence in the rocket: the guidance is carried out according to the laser "pointer", which is corrected from the ground or water. Scouts were ideal candidates for laser spotting, but our army never got them.
Paratroopers (as well as simple infantry, however) often had to master aviation "jargon". So it was possible to direct attack aircraft and helicopters at the target much more accurately using a conventional radio. And they themselves did not want to fall under "friendly" fire at all. The Americans were already different then: they had means of indicating targets, which, in a truly automatic mode, having received data from ground services, could direct combat aircraft and helicopters to the target.
Well-equipped Iraqi troops during the "Desert Storm" were completely defeated: US troops simply "stacked" missiles with accurate guidance on their tanks. At the same time, there was practically no risk, but Iraq was almost immediately left without heavy armored vehicles. Our deep intelligence of the Airborne Forces could only envy them.
Chechen everyday life
If in Afghanistan, intelligence was, at the very least, engaged in really core activities, then in Chechnya the fighters again became "generalists": often they had to not only detect, but also destroy militants. There was a chronic shortage of specialists, many types of troops had neither equipment nor trained fighters at all, and therefore the Airborne Forces (intelligence in particular) were officially reprofiled to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage activities.
Fortunately, by 1995, the recruitment of the 45th Special Purpose Regiment (which became a real legend) was almost completed. The uniqueness of this unit is that when it was created, the experience of all foreign armies was not only studied, but also actively used in practice. Taking into account the lessons of Afghanistan, the prepared groups were immediately trained not only for reconnaissance, but also for direct fire clashes with the enemy.
To do this, the 45th regiment immediately received the required amount of medium and heavy armored vehicles. In addition, the paratroopers finally got "Nona" - unique mortar and artillery systems that allow firing shells with "honest" homing ("Kitolov-2").
Finally, in other reconnaissance subunits, reconnaissance in this respect has gone far ahead), finally, line sections were created. To equip them, BTR-80s were transferred, which were used only as reconnaissance vehicles (there were no fighters in the airborne squad), AGS (automatic grenade launchers) and flamethrower systems were actively prepared and coordinated.
There was another difficulty as well. Our fighters immediately began to say that the intelligence of the Ukrainian Airborne Forces (from selected nationalists) was participating in the war on the side of the militants. Since only specialists prepared the fighters, even friends often met in battle.
What was all this for?
All these measures made it possible to quickly prepare groups prepared and equipped for combat missions in difficult mountainous terrain. Moreover, these units had a sufficient amount of heavy weapons, which made it possible, when large concentrations of the enemy were detected, not only to report on their deployment, but also to engage in battle on their own. Armor, on the other hand, often came to the rescue of scouts who suddenly encountered superior enemy forces.
It was the experience of the landing troops that gave impetus to the re-equipment of the reconnaissance units of other branches of the armed forces, which also received heavy armored vehicles. The fact is that the intelligence of the Airborne Forces in action proved that a couple of armored personnel carriers can greatly improve the effectiveness of military operations.
Drones
It was in the 45th regiment that, for the first time in our history, combat tests of UAVs began, which are now a real "hit" among the same Americans. The domestic drone appeared far from out of nowhere: since the late 80s, there has been an active development of the Stroy-P reconnaissance complex, the main “olfactory sense” of which was to be the Pchela-1T aircraft.
Unfortunately, before the start of the war, he was never brought to mind, since the method of landing was not thought out. But already in April, the first "Stroy-P" went to Khankala. Five “Bees” were attached to it at once. Tests immediately proved the highest efficiency of such weapons in modern wars. So, it was possible to tie to the map all the identified positions of the militants with an accuracy of literally up to a centimeter, which was immediately appreciated by the gunners.
Difficulties of operation
A total of 18 launches were made, and all of them were made in the mountains, in which the military intelligence of the Airborne Forces was forced to operate most often. The military immediately had complaints about the running gear of the "Bee". However, the technicians managed to achieve satisfactory operation of the engines, after which the depth of exploration immediately increased to 50 kilometers or more.
Unfortunately, the difficulties of the 90s led to the fact that only 18 Pchela-1T devices were in service throughout the country. Ten of them were stored at the base of the Black Sea Fleet in the Crimea, where they were tested to launch them from the deck of ships. Alas, they were not treated well there: the design bureaus had to work hard to bring the "Bees" to a conditioned state after they were stored in inappropriate conditions.
In the end, 15 vehicles began flying in the Chechen mountains. By that time, two had been lost in combat conditions, and one "Chernomorets" could not be restored.
Gold or drones
Initially, it was planned that at least a hundred of such devices would be in service with the intelligence of the Airborne Forces throughout the country. The joyful military immediately handed over all the technical documentation for their production to the Smolensk Aviation Plant. The labor proletarians immediately disappointed them: even according to the most modest estimates, unmanned vehicles turned out to be almost more expensive than gold.
Because of this, production was abandoned. The other 15 devices served the scouts well: they were taken to be restored to the design bureau, launched again and invariably received the most accurate information that the landing force could not always get. The intelligence of the Airborne Forces is very grateful to the developers of the "Bee", as hardworking machines have saved many lives.
Scouts propagandists
Alas, the intelligence command was far from always able to correctly use all the means that were at its disposal. So, at one time, at least five dozen people, specialists in "psychological operations", were transferred to Mozdok. They had at their disposal a mobile printing house and a receiving-transmitting television center. With the help of the latter, the intelligence services planned to broadcast propaganda material.
But the command did not provide for the fact that full-time specialists could provide television broadcasts, but there were no operators and correspondents in the detachment. With leaflets, everything turned out even worse. They turned out to be so bad in content and appearance that they caused only despondency. In general, the position of specialists in psychological work turned out to be not very popular among intelligence officers.
Logistics and supply issues
Starting from the first campaign, the disgusting equipment of the reconnaissance groups of the Airborne Forces (and other branches of the military too) began to affect, contributing to an increase in injuries and an increase in the risk of detection. As a result, the paratroopers had to recruit veterans who raised funds to equip their fellow soldiers. Alas, the Second Chechen War was characterized by exactly the same problems. So, in 2008, the Union of Paratroopers raised money for comfortable unloading, imported boots, sleeping bags, and even for medical supplies ...
In contrast to previous years, the command began to pay much more attention to the training of small reconnaissance and combat groups. It has finally become clear that in modern conditions they are much more important than divisions. Simply put, the role of individual training of each fighter has sharply increased, which is simply vital for scouts, since each of them can rely solely on their own forces in a combat exit.
What has remained unchanged is the chevrons of the Airborne Forces intelligence: they depict a bat (like the GRU). In 2005, a decree was issued that ordered all intelligence departments to switch to a chevron with an image of an eagle clutching a carnation and a black arrow in its paws, but so far there has been little progress in this direction. Of course, the form of reconnaissance of the Airborne Forces has completely changed: it has become much more convenient, regular unloading has appeared in it.
Compliance of intelligence of the Airborne Forces with modern realities
Experts say that today the situation is not too rosy. Of course, the rearmament process that has begun is encouraging, but the technical equipment does not reach generally accepted standards.
So, among the Americans, up to ¼ of the personnel of a division of any kind of troops belong specifically to intelligence. Our share of personnel who can engage in such operations is 8-9% at best. The difficulty is also in the fact that earlier there were separate reconnaissance battalions in which first-class specialists were trained. Now there are only specialized companies, the level of training of personnel in which is far from being so high.
How to get here
And how to get into the intelligence of the Airborne Forces? First, each candidate must pass a standard medical examination for fitness for military service. The state of health must correspond (A2 as a last resort).
It will not be superfluous to file a report addressed to the military commissar of the recruiting station from where you intend to go to pay your debt to the Motherland. On all subsequent commissions, also voice your desire. In the meantime, information about your desire to serve in the intelligence of the Airborne Forces will appear in your file. At the assembly point, try to make personal contact with the "buyers" from the landing troops.
As soon as you arrive at the place of service, submit a report addressed to the unit commander with a request to transfer you to the reconnaissance company. It is important to withstand further screening, which is done by passing a fairly tough physical fitness exam. The competition is high. The requirements for candidates are extremely high. We note right away that it is necessary to find out about them before being drafted into the army, since the standards change quite often.
Let's not forget about psychological tests designed to identify those fighters who can really serve in such a specific branch of the military as the intelligence department of the Airborne Forces. And these checks should be taken extremely seriously: "closing your eyes", they will not look at their results here. Only a person who is brave enough, smart enough and can be extremely cold-blooded in a deadly situation is worthy of enrolling in an intelligence unit. And further. Preference is given to those candidates who have a VAS. In addition, people who have a civilian specialty that could be useful (signallers, electronics engineers) are highly rated.
Do not forget about intelligence. As is the case with many of the most important branches of the military (border guards, in particular), preference is now given to those soldiers who have served their military service in the same troops where they apply for admission to the contract. Here's how to get into the intelligence of the Airborne Forces.
Do you think that all conscripts run away from the military enlistment office, hide for distant relatives, do not sign the agenda, come up with illnesses? Not! There are those who want to serve in the army. If earlier they were told about such people in jokes, today it is a regularity. Guys come to the draft board on the agenda or earlier, before the offensive and ask how to get into one or another branch of the military. Many are interested in the marines, airborne troops and, of course, special forces. So they ask: how to get into the special forces on conscription. The military registration and enlistment office is not omnipotent, but it answers such questions.
Life time
Before we touch directly on the service, consider how its conditions have changed over the years. In the Soviet Union, since 1925, the Law on Compulsory Military Service has been adopted, and every man has the honorable duty to serve 2 years in the army, and junior officers - 3 years. Before the start of World War II, the size of the army was about 5 million, by the end of the war - more than 11 million people only in the ground units. In 1948, the post-war demobilization ends, the number has decreased by almost four times. And in 1949 a new law on service in the ground units and aviation was issued. Its duration is 3 years, in naval units - 4 years, with a call-up once a year in winter. Note that at that time, conscript soldiers were really trained to fly an aircraft, operate various complex equipment, the training was full and varied. After Stalin's death, the size of the army was reduced, the term of service was reduced by one year, and spring conscription was introduced. Graduates of institutes had the right to serve only a year.
In those days, a guy who asked how to get into the special forces on conscription could well get into a situation that he was taken to an incomprehensible place, it was not clear on what, they brought him to a tent where his military unit was, it was dirty on the street, and there was a clean one at the entrance. checkered towel. This was the first test, if the conscript did not understand the meaning of the towel, then his life became very difficult, if he understood, it was also difficult, but a little easier. Do not forget about the tough confrontation between the two poles of the world, the USA and the USSR. A lot of attention was given to the training of soldiers.
In October 2007, the service is shortened to 18 months, and in January 2008 - to 12 months. It seems that we serve less, we should rejoice. But this system has its downsides. The term for training soldiers has been significantly reduced and it is now difficult, and sometimes impossible, to train specialists from them.
How to get into the special forces
At the call to serve in the special forces - the real one - will not work. Sorry, but it is. In the very name of the special forces lies its essence - this is a group that performs non-standard tasks, not general military ones. That is, the execution of sabotage is the task of the intelligence groups that are in every military formation, and the special forces are specialists, masters of their craft, ready to complete the task in any conditions.
Everyone knows the Alpha group. Is it possible to get into the special forces on conscription? Here's a summary of the conditions, and you yourself will understand everything. Ensigns and officers are taken to the FSB special forces, you need to have a recommendation from active employees or veterans of the FSB. Your height must be at least 175 cm. This does not include psychological and physical tests.
FSB special forces standards
Physical standards do not look scary and are quite achievable for a sports man. This is 25 pull-ups, 90 push-ups from the floor, a press - 100 times, at a hundred-meter race you need to meet 12.7 seconds, do 10 times a bench press with a mass of your own weight, run 3 km in 11 minutes. In addition to all this, it is necessary to show your skills and perseverance in hand-to-hand combat.
In addition to close work with a psychologist, the next of kin will be checked for criminal records, and the candidate himself must pass a polygraph test.
Airborne
Before you think about how to get into the special forces of the Airborne Forces, get into the Airborne Forces itself. Airborne troops are units with a long history and traditions. Today, in order to get there, you must have absolute health, sportswear, otherwise they are driven to march-throws, and desire.
Details such as smoking, alcohol, heart disease should not be included in your personal file. Even if you have already quit or are cured, they will most likely take another candidate.
If your dream is special forces, then you need to be in an air assault battalion. This is the best power unit where a conscript can get; only contract soldiers are already recruiting for reconnaissance battalions. It will be a plus if you have a rank or belt in some martial art. It remains to prove yourself in the DSB and, perhaps, you will receive an invitation to transfer to a contract in an intelligence or special forces unit.
Marines
This is the most versatile type of troops in the Russian army. Soldiers can land from the water and from the air, operate in isolation from the main forces, in operations at sea, capture and hold positions. Although they make small physical demands, it is believed that everything else will be instilled in the troops. Health requirements are similar to those of the Airborne Forces.
You are probably thinking why write about different types of troops when there is a specific question: how to get into the special forces on conscription? The fact is that the soldiers of the airborne assault units of the Airborne Forces and the Marine Corps most often receive an invitation to special forces with the condition of switching to a contract, since no one will spend money to educate and train a special forces soldier for a year, and then he will go to civilian life.
Intelligence service
military registration and enlistment office
For a conscript who does not have an official deferment from the army, the military enlistment office looks like a king and a god who can send anywhere, give a specific recommendation. If you have decided for yourself, then it is better to ask at the commission right away how to get to serve in the special forces on conscription. They will make a note about your desire and zeal, and perhaps give you practical advice. Most likely, you will end up in the Airborne Forces or the Marine Corps, this is quite within the power of the military registration and enlistment office if you are physically prepared, healthy and pass all the tests.
The military enlistment office knows when and from which troops buyers come, and can send you to the assembly point at the right time and with the right recommendations. The rest will depend on you, because the interview will be conducted by the buyer himself.
Preliminary preparation
Are you determined to get selected for special forces? Do you agree to serve under a contract, physical and psychological stress that you have to overcome? And besides this, have time to study, learn new things, get a military specialization? Fine! Such people are always happy.
In this case, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle, do not smoke, drink at a minimum, or completely give up alcohol. Going in for sports and getting sports awards is a must. Sport will teach discipline and it will be easier in the army. Do exercises, douse yourself with cold water, increase your immunity. If you have a patriotic club in your city, start visiting it. Usually you can learn to shoot in them, learn the basic army skills. If there is little time left before the call, then also learn army combat, it is cruel, but justifies itself when training a large number of people in a short time. If you have more than a year left before the call, then you need to find a good martial arts coach. Many people love martial arts, but it is better closer to our mentality and better applicable in life.
To begin with, it is worth remembering that all scouts do not like to be called spies. And then - nothing is impossible. And even a diploma in a specialty that is not related to intelligence is not an obstacle on the way to a dream.
“The profile of the university does not matter much, the main thing is the basic level of culture and education, as well as learning ability, including foreign languages,” said AiF head of the press bureau of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergey Ivanov. Only a citizen of Russia, as a rule, at the age of 22-30 can become a staff member of the Foreign Intelligence Service. A person must meet the medical and professional-psychological requirements of military service. Everyone who thinks that "a man from the street" cannot get into intelligence is mistaken. The SVR website has detailed step-by-step instructions on what such candidates should do.
First of all, you need to fill out two questionnaires by hand (available on the site). Attach a color photo, a photocopy of your passport, diploma or an extract from the student's record book, if you are still studying at the university. The entire package of documents is sent by registered mail to the address: С Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation, PO Box 510, Main Post Office, Moscow, 101000. Or you can personally hand it over to the SVR press office at: Moscow, st. Ostozhenka, 51, building 1. “Materials sent by e-mail, facsimile, etc., are not considered,” Ivanov explained. “Personal data transmitted through open electronic communication channels may become known to third parties, including foreign intelligence agencies.” Those whose documents are of interest to the SVR will receive a response from the personnel department within 30 days from the date of their receipt. Candidates will be invited for an interview.
The questionnaire contains both fairly predictable questions (we judge - we don’t judge, whether there are close relatives - foreigners, etc.), and unexpected ones. For example, it is important for intelligence whether among the relatives of a potential candidate there were persons who died as a result of an accident, suicide, under unclear circumstances. And if a person suddenly used drugs and other psychoactive substances, it is necessary to describe what sensations he experienced.
What checks need to be passed?
“Different people come to get into intelligence. There are also some very strange people. Then a subject will come who "can read minds." If I could, I would immediately understand from my thoughts that I had to run away from here, - Sergey Ivanov jokes. - A woman came who claimed that she could teleport. She was immediately asked to demonstrate this "necessary" ability for a scout. Hasn't appeared since. Often trying to get a job "invisible people" and "able to pass through walls."
But more often come across those who pursue selfish goals. These are calculated immediately. Even if the candidate has successfully passed the first stage of selection, he will have to communicate with psychologists and undergo a polygraph examination, where they ask “uncomfortable” and tricky questions. Careerists are “declassified” quickly and they try not to take them, because you cannot trust them 100%: in pursuit of another star on shoulder straps, such people can make a fatal mistake.
There are absolute contraindications to the service. For example, insufficient resistance to psychological pressure. This can also be safely attributed to a bad memory, a slow reaction, and even bad erudition. Not every profession requires such a broad outlook and flexibility of mind, but a scout has no right to be uninteresting for those people who interest him. So slow-witted scouts are not kept with us. A triple filter is provided to screen out such candidates. First, you need to get a higher education. Secondly, it is necessary to pass a special test for intelligence. And thirdly, to be tested in practice: specific situations are simulated that allow you to identify how a person behaves in an extreme situation, if he is confused or very scared. Also, no matter how pathetic it may sound, but without patriotism, you should not even meddle in intelligence. “When we talk about the feeling of patriotism, then, believe me, these are not some lofty words, but an urgent need,” Sergey Ivanov explains. “A person must believe in the rightness of his cause, because he goes to difficulties, hardships, and sometimes risks his life for the sole purpose of serving the Fatherland.”
What salary?
No matter how talented and beautiful a newly minted scout is, he cannot do without training. They can be sent to courses taught by active intelligence officers and veterans of the service. And perhaps they will individually assign you to a curator who will teach you everything. They will not take you to the Academy of Foreign Intelligence from the school bench. “Not everyone we accepted goes on to study at the academy. But everyone who enters the academy is already our employee,” the Foreign Intelligence Service explains. Moreover, they study here not for 5 years, as in an ordinary university, but for as long as the Center “recommended”. They teach a lot of different and interesting things - international law, foreign languages, the history of diplomatic relations, political science, regional studies and so on. But first of all - special disciplines by profession: the theory and practice of intelligence work.
After training, young employees come to the divisions of the service, where for some time they delve into the situation, and already with specific tasks they are sent to the most important place of work of the intelligence officer - abroad. If you have a family, then you can go together.
Worthy salary. The press office does not give exact figures, since they depend on where you are currently working - here in Russia, in the central office of the service, or on a business trip abroad. Yes, and on a business trip, the country is different from country to country: it all depends on the complexity of the current situation and the tasks performed. But they advised me to focus on the salaries of the military, since all intelligence officers are officers and have combined arms ranks. They are covered by all the benefits due to military personnel - a good social package with free medical care, sanatoriums and military mortgages.
Personnel clip A separate reconnaissance battalion of the 7th Airborne Assault Mountain Division was formed atypically. Major Roman Ivanov, appointed battalion commander, was given preferences in the selection of the best officers, ensigns and sergeants for service in divisional intelligence. And every officer newly appointed to the battalion was involved in this work. Each volunteer was visited personally by his future company commander for interviews and testing. This is what made it possible to filter out random people from the very beginning. As a result, contract soldiers arrived at a military unit that had already been equipped to the brim: dormitories with a mini-gym and showers in each company. Perhaps it was precisely this approach that laid the good foundation for the rapid development of this battalion of the Russian army of the 21st century. Roman Ivanov earned his St. George Cross in August 2008. At the head of a reconnaissance platoon, he paved the way for our tactical group to the Georgian airfield, from which not a single combat aircraft took off after that. In general, he grew up in military garrisons and painted parachutes in kindergarten. After the Ryazan school, from lieutenant to major, he served in the 247th Cossack airborne assault regiment, slowly going through all combat positions from platoon commander to battalion commander. “There are no uninteresting people in the battalion, he thinks philosophically aloud. - It happens that you talk with a soldier at the bivouac of a field exit - like reading a fascinating story. And in the battalion formation you already notice a living monolith of complementary characters, life experience and spiritual qualities. Everyday problems of contractors, like themselves, look like an adult. When the deputy commander of the automobile platoon, foreman Vladimir Gruzenkov, due to the ups and downs of life, found himself alone with three children, the battalion commander with his "political officer" Major Denis Nikonov knocked himself off his feet, knocking out a three-room office for him. At school and kindergarten, they are already used to the fact that children can be taken away not only
father is a paratrooper, but also one of his colleagues. Test "Cooper complex" When selecting contractors for a battalion, it is assumed that a person with the habit of serving anyhow as in the airborne elite does not take root. Here, self-installation for continuous development is preferable. It is not for nothing that each candidate is passed through the so-called "Cooper complex" - a physical hardening test. It seems nothing complicated: four exercises of ten approaches for arm strength, abs, endurance, jumping ability. Romantics who expect that someone in the battalion will make a superman from them are eliminated immediately. Hard workers working for the result of their last strength have a chance to become scouts. For three months of probation, a novice contract soldier must go through double loads. In general, the intensity of combat training in the battalion is of a cult nature. And the range of fighting skills is very extensive. In service
reconnaissance officers - elements of a computerized tactical level control system, with the help of which the battalion commander and company commanders can receive online radio and video information from each reconnaissance officer via closed communication channels on the battlefield, apply programs for modeling the development of the situation and making tactical decisions. They successfully master here and aerial unmanned reconnaissance complex. The electronic intelligence unit is armed with equipment that allows round-the-clock remote reconnaissance. So the higher education that 30 percent of the unit's contract soldiers have comes in very handy. However, hand-to-hand combat does not go into the background for scouts. There is a directive in the battalion: do not limit your level of “hand-to-hand combat” with the framework of the manual on physical training. The result is already visible - the victory in the hand-to-hand combat unit championship of Lieutenants Pavel Osipov and Anatoly Mamurkov. The reconnaissance battalion of Major Roman Ivanov is still in its infancy. But in how skillfully its professional soldiers acted in combat training tests of the outgoing year, such as, for example, the international exercises "Slavic Brotherhood", the features of a combat unit of the 21st century, always ready for immediate use, are clearly visible.
