Time contract
I have long wanted to describe my experience of joint service with this category of military personnel. Disputes about whether they are needed or not do not subside. They were called residents of manholes, recruited into the army at the beer kiosk on the ad. They also called the future of our professional army. The backbone, which will allow to fight not by number, but by skill.
The first contractors I encountered appeared in 1994. Having just changed the service station from Yerevan to Aksai of the Rostov Region, I served in the 22 Special Operations Brigade of the GRU GSh. The brigade in 1993 was withdrawn here from the village of Perepechkul, located near Baku. She stood in a clean field in tents.
Applications for the first contractor could not be found. That period was distinguished by a large number of chores and an almost complete lack of combat training. It was not possible to teach them the specialty of intelligence. It was inefficient to put the senior on the economic work of digging ditches, cleaning the territory and others. They didn’t have command skills, and it wasn’t possible to ask how they were from a fixed-term fighter. The motivation was weak, the salary was cheap, and the incentives in the form of disciplinary punishment were either not effective or not applicable to them at all. They dropped out of many activities of the military unit.
The classes, which were conducted irregularly, were regularly served by the contractors, although they often asked commanders there uncomfortable questions that a conscript soldier would not ask. They did not like the drill, they were looking for a rational grain in everything. So if the commanders were poorly prepared for classes, they felt uncomfortable in the presence of contract soldiers. Contract soldiers served for about three months and quit.
The next group of contractors were conscripts who signed a contract six months before being transferred to the reserve. In 1993 – 1994, units of the brigade were involved in actions to resolve the Ossetian-Ingush conflict. The detachments, periodically replacing each other, performed the task of guarding representatives of the temporary administration, sometimes in the forest areas they searched for illegal armed groups. In Vladikavkaz there was an opportunity to engage in combat training and sports. The fighters liked this service. We were stationed in one of the barracks of the former military school. Naturally, the conditions for the service were good. We even visited the swimming pool, which had not been seen before, not only by soldiers, but also by officers.
At that time, it became possible to sign a contract during fixed-term service, and part of the fighters who visited North Ossetia expressed a desire to move to contract service. They served well. All were from the Rostov region and, of course, had the privileges offered to contract servicemen: they lived at home, went to work with 9 to 18.00, and received more money than they did for fixed-term soldiers. It seemed to the officers of the company that sensible contract soldiers finally appeared. I also thought that they would become the backbone of our company, they would help in the training of the new conscription, and they themselves would further improve their professional level. Unfortunately, this was not the case. As soon as the order to dismiss their appeal was issued, they all wrote a report on termination of the contract.
They simply took advantage of a loophole in the legislation in order to facilitate their military life and increase their financial support. For a month they were persuaded to continue their service, they did educational work, even threatened with criminal liability for fraud, but they were adamant. I was no longer confused with them as with military personnel, and after a month and a half they were fired.
Yura's tragedy
By the fall of 1994, there was a generally negative opinion about contract workers. The overwhelming majority of officers believed that nothing good could be expected from this category of servicemen, and they tried their best to get rid of them. At this time, another contract soldier was enlisted into our company, or rather, only one. His name was Yurin. His height was below average, his thin, wheat-colored hair was combed back. He also wore a mustache that singled him out in a crowd of other fighters. Nevertheless, he was inconspicuous, did not differ either in sports or in combat training. Discipline and daily routine did not break, so everyone left him alone.
It is not known how his fate would have been and how long he would have served, but the first Chechen campaign that began a few months later made tragic adjustments to his fate.
Our company entered the consolidated grouping of the 22 Brigade in full force. Moving forward in Mozdok, the group is located on the outskirts of a military airfield. Yurin did not quit, but left with us. Here, both soldiers and officers lived in the same tent, therefore the previously existing differences between contract servicemen and conscripts disappeared. According to his abilities, Yurin was most suited to be a sniper, and he became one. With the responsibility of a mature man, I began to study my new specialty. Archer he was rather mediocre, but the topography, the choice of position and its disguise, he studied very well.
Next to the grouping of the 22 brigade there were also groups of other brigades, the Berd and Asbestos. Everyone especially liked the Berd team. She was on 90 percent staffed with contract soldiers. The guys are all strong and well prepared. Even from the side it was clear how smoothly and quickly they execute commands. The skill was felt in everything they did - from production to battle to the installation of tents. Our conscripts and Yurin didn’t look very much against them. It is not surprising that the groups of the Berd brigade were the first to set off for a mission in the mountains. There were several amphibious operations in which they proved themselves well. A series of successful ambushes and destroyed communications earned them respect from the special forces and their submission to state awards.
Their success hit hard on the prestige of the 22 OBRSpN and the division of the SKVO. Therefore, on December 25, a group of brigades was planted in the mountains near the village of Komsomolskoye by landing method, the backbone of which was our company. The task was the following: reconnaissance of the ways of reinforcements of militants from the mountainous regions to Grozny, organization of ambushes and road mining. Yurin was in the group.
Intelligence was unsuccessful. Yurin was captured by the militants and went through all the circles of hell. They learned that he was a contract soldier, and the militants had a much worse attitude toward them than conscripts.
Each of the prisoners was filmed on a video camera, and each was charged under the Ichkerian criminal code of genocide, mass premeditated killings, etc. Thus, there was a real danger of being killed or, at best, spending the rest of his days behind bars. The militants know a lot of sophisticated bullying, and the contract soldier Yurin endured their main burden with dignity.
All, including him, managed to rescue from captivity. After rehabilitation, he returned to service in Chechnya. I already became a company and took him to my unit. But this was not the same Yurin, whom everyone knew before.
He became withdrawn, much more serious and eager for revenge. Began to abuse alcohol. I considered this to be the consequences of a captivity and hoped that with time everything would be settled.
In early summer, an army operation began in the area n. P. Agishty. Yurin, along with other contractors, who recently arrived at the company, also took part in it. He proved himself very well.
After returning from a military operation at Agishtami, the fighters needed rest and psychological relief. The conscripts were given the opportunity to sleep, and for the officers and contract soldiers with the permission of the commander laid the table. Everything went smoothly. I already paid attention to Yurin’s bitterness and his detachment from the collective. Not knowing what measures to take, I decided to entrust this problem to my deputy in educational work. I did not have time to do this.
From the morning of the next day, shooting was scheduled, before which it was necessary to take ammunition from the field warehouse. Yurin and newly arrived contract soldiers Marin and Korolev were to receive them.
In the morning I and other officers were awakened by an explosion in the headquarters area.
Five minutes later, a messenger ran around the headquarters and reported in a worried voice:
- Comrade captain, there Yurin blew himself ...
Remains of sleep instantly left everyone. Quickly dressed, hurried to the scene. A terrible picture opened up there: Yurin was sitting on a wooden floor and was shaking his legs helplessly, or rather, what was left of them. His legs were torn off in the region of the leg, and from under the bloodied flesh were sticking to the wreckage of white bones, his right foot, shod in shoes, hung on a long rag of his own skin. At the same time, he was absolutely calm.
“Comrade captain, I took off two stretch marks, I didn’t have a third one,” Yurin reported in his everyday voice. All were shocked by what they saw, taking off their stupor, injected promedol and made an emergency ligation. Our doctors ran up, put him on a stretcher, and after five minutes an armored personnel carrier approached, and we took him to a nearby medical battalion.
While I was engaged in the fate of Yurin, there was no time to analyze what had happened. Upon returning to the company, the question arose: “And what kind of stretch marks did Yurin take, how could they be inside the battalion's location, and why did Yurin get away from where he was supposed to be?”
It turned out all after I read the explanatory Maryina and the Queen.
From the explanatory it appeared that in the morning Marin and Korolev got up to get ammunition, but Yurin did not want to rise. They woke him up and pushed him outside. It was impossible to make them follow with them, for some reason he wandered towards the construction site. There they caught up with him and, to bring him to their senses, weighed a couple of slaps in the face. Then Yurin pulled a WG-42 grenade out of his pocket, pulled out a ring and said that he would blow everyone up. They did not contact him and went for ammunition without him. When they were in stock, an explosion thundered. The explanatory supervisor of the warehouse, confirming this, was here. The following happened: Yurin, having pulled out the ring, did not insert it back, but held the grenade in his hands. Sitting down on the flooring, he fell asleep, his arms opened, the grenade fell at his feet and an explosion thundered. Grenade, as it turned out, Yurin picked up during the last reconnaissance, when we inspected the base of the militants. Therefore, he did not pass it after returning to the base.
At the investigation ended. Guilty punished himself. His legs were amputated. I met him in the Rostov hospital, the impression remained painful. I did not leave a bitter aftertaste and the feeling that I, as a commander, had left something unfinished. After so many years from the perspective of today's experience, I understand that the cause of the tragedy lay in the psychological trauma after the captivity. He needed a long rehabilitation, not fighting. I don’t know where Yurin is now, perhaps, he heads the fund of veterans of the Chechen war, or maybe he is asking for alms at the crossroads of Rostov.
Dogs of war
The tragedy of Yurina had a strong negative impact on his colleagues, but did not break the morale. There were ten contract soldiers in the company, and they have proven themselves to be good at fighting. Basically it was the guys from the Rostov region, all strong, all after military service, but without the experience of a scout. Educate them to reconnaissance wisdom was necessary. The motivation of the guys was strong. We had all the opportunities for quality organization of classes. Any ammunition in the required quantity, any mines, unlimited lifespan. The place where the classes were held was two pits that were located not far from the station’s station. The only thing that was difficult there was to conduct special tactical training. Neither urban nor mountain conditions could not be modeled. A pair of mountain combat exits followed by an analysis of deficiencies helped to correct tactical gaps. I had to study and officers. They required a qualitatively different level of methodology and organization of the educational process. A flaw or weak knowledge of the subject led to a loss of credibility. Contract contractors did not like simplifications and mindless drill. But if you conduct a competent shooting training, they were engaged with interest and excitement. Most of all they hated the single drill. I myself believe that there is nothing more stupid than marking the asphalt lined up on squares. It happened that such studies ended in conflict. As a result, I canceled the drill. Only periodically they conducted classes on knowledge of withdrawal and approach to the commander, giving military greetings and collective movement systems.
Contractors discovered good applied skills that were indispensable in the organization of life. One turned out to be a bricklayer, another a carpenter, the third a cook. As a result, the life of our company became an order of magnitude better than in the rest of the battalion units, and the contract soldiers began to enjoy respect. They were often asked to assist commanders from other companies.
Yet, both combat training and everyday life are only the basis for performing combat missions. Soon these tasks fell down like a horn of plenty.
At the beginning of the summer of 1995, it seemed that the end of the Chechen war was approaching. Grozny and the whole territory of Chechnya’s plains were under the control of federal forces. In fact, control was weak.
The first clash of contract soldiers with the militants took place while escorting a group headquarters vehicle. Three contract servicemen recently transferred to us from the 205 Motorized Rifle Brigade left for safety. They just drove away from Khankala, as at the crossroads the headquarters machine came under fire, which the militants started from a side road due to concrete slabs. The first shots were injured driver and two officers in the cabin. The BTR escort, in which the contract soldiers were located, was a little behind the “loaf”. Therefore, starting the shelling, the militants did not know about his presence. Kontraktniki, quickly leaving the armor, fired back. But Vetochkin and Inyatkin went through the yards to the rear of the militants and, as if in a shooting gallery, shot two of them. The rest managed to escape.
The troops moved south, where the Dudayev separatist detachments were driven into the mountains. After their defeat, the war had to end, but in order to break the resistance of the rebels forever, it was necessary to destroy the symbol of Chechen separatism - General Dudayev and his headquarters. For this purpose, a special group was selected from the 173 unit, the basis of which consisted of contract soldiers of the 2 company. The forces of this group carried out the most complicated operation, which included landing, exit to the site of the operation, raid on the headquarters building, encirclement of the group by militants and exit from it. Despite the fact that the result expected from the operation was not achieved, the contract soldiers showed themselves very well. They were able to return without losses due to their professionalism, well-coordinated teamwork and non-standard solution of the problems that arose.
A part of the contract servicemen quit after this operation. They acted well in battle, not afraid to die. But, having returned to the base, it was apparently decided that the degree of risk does not correspond to the payable cash content and social guarantees. To part with some was genuinely a pity.
Our task was to re-form the backbone of the company. Now the selection of contractors has been given special attention. We did not take those whom they give us, but purposefully engaged in the selection of personnel. Especially since the commander of the group allowed the selection of contract soldiers to the special forces detachment from all units and units of the Defense Ministry stationed in Chechnya. But how to determine the worthy? Vetochkin helped us. He said that he knew several good contractors at the previous duty station and recommended them to us.
His "place" of service was the 205-I motorized rifle brigade.
After the meeting and Vetochkin's preliminary talk with candidates for service with us, I also visited the 205 Brigade with the group commanders. Our visit was unofficial and uncoordinated with the command of the brigade, but we had to think about staffing our own unit. None of the commander will not give voluntarily intelligent subordinates. Indeed, here we are faced with difficulties. After the conversation, in our unit we wrote out relations for translation, but only two of them were transferred without complications. Two more did not want to be released, and three were kept under arrest. With those who did not want to let go, did just. They wrote a termination report and came to us. That’s how the competent BTR drivers came to us. In civilian life, they worked as KAMAZ drivers, knew the engine and had good driving skills. They quickly learned the characteristics of the BTR-80 and, under the guidance of the deputy engineer, they restored all the armored personnel carriers of the company.
The most interesting and difficult transition to the unit was at the three contractors, who were under arrest. The owl, Idaitov, and Yarovaya did not just sit there, but they wrote a statement to the military prosecutor’s office for arbitrariness and non-statutory relations. They overdid it in knocking out the products laid down by their division from the warehouse manager. The ensign complained to the command and wrote a statement to the military prosecutor's office. Since Vetochkin said that these were some of the best fighters, they decided to help them out. Their commanders did not care where to put them, to prison or to us, so they agreed to transfer. It remained to settle the issue with the ensign that he took the statement. And this was done.
I risked picking up a contract company after such a resonant aerial, not everyone agreed with my decision, but I never had to regret it. New contract employees have brought a fresh stream and a special flavor to our lives. Together with them, the word "double basses" and the cheerful disposition of the lungs to the rise of specialists migrated to the company. Studying the individual characteristics of each of them, went to the belief in the correctness of the choice. Half of the contractors turned out to be with higher education, a life grip and a rather high level of culture.
Stavropolets Goldanov, for example, not only played the guitar, but also composed songs and sang. His concerts gathered all the squad personnel. Appeared in the company and a kind of cultural program. A gazebo with a table and benches was built behind a sport gord not far from the bathhouse, a barbecue was placed nearby. It was there that celebrated the holidays and birthdays.
The age of the double basses was from 23 to 33 years. Most possessed good motor skills, quick response and excellent physical data. Their individual training was good, it took classes in special subjects and general combat coordination of the unit.
A week after picking the group gave the first result. This was at the end of the summer or the beginning of the autumn 1995 of the year. Our company received the task of conducting reconnaissance of the forest, south of Khankala. Upon reaching the BMP to the forest, the groups on foot began to get into the forest and, pulling up the armored vehicles behind them, reached the home base without incident. Here at the height there were old trenches where we could accommodate and organize all-round defense. From this point of view, triples diverged through the forest, conducting a search. A base of illegal armed formations was not found, but they managed to detain two militants. We delivered them to the group headquarters. There were no more surprises. This result was the only one in the operation and the first in new contract soldiers.
With the right approach to the organization of the service and taking into account the peculiarities of working with contract servicemen, this category of military personnel allows to bring the capabilities of the unit to a qualitatively new level, which, in principle, cannot be achieved with conscripts.
In the performance of their duties, contract soldiers have significantly simplified the work of commanders in the preparation of combat operations. After a couple of months of intense combat activities, preparation for them was brought to automatism. Everyone knew what to do and in what sequence. The commanders instructed the preparation of an event and, without being distracted by checking personnel, receiving ammunition, organizing communications, building a convoy, could safely work on the operation. After the report on readiness, the group commanders had to take their places on the armor and begin to lead the units.
In combat training, their degree of responsibility and the level of assimilation of information allowed them to perform the program of parachuting. This happened as follows: under the guidance of an officer of the airborne service, domes were laid on the “take-off” and were given pre-jump training. Then the spinner drove us to the area of Vladikavkaz, where on one of the fields we turned around the landing area and made jumps. During the week, all the contractors made the required number of jumps.
Of course, the ideal is impossible, there were features that you had to put up with. So Idaitov after the holidays with a feast always fell asleep under one of the bushes. Of course, if it happened in the summertime of the day. And to fight this was useless. However, he compensated for this lack of professional skills and knowledge. Uygur by nationality, he had the experience of several wars in Tajikistan. In addition to protecting the interests of Russia, he participated in internecine disassembly, was trained by Pakistani and Chinese instructors. They were interested in a special department. Probably, they wanted to expose the spy. He was not exposed in espionage, but he replenished our luggage with invaluable knowledge and behavioral skills in battle and during ambushes. Idaitov sometimes showed such simplest things from individual preparation that we were surprised at how we did not think of it before. He fought professionally and prudently. He had sharp eyesight and precise movements. The sniper rifle in his hands became an instrument that brought death to enemies. He taught snipers how to fix the drums so that the net would not stray. He himself preferred to work using a mechanical sight, but only during the day. Rifle used as second weaponpreferring AKMSL.
There was another important innovation that was put into practice at a meeting with contractors. After one of the operations, the headquarters of the reconnaissance department accused us of illiterate actions. In particular, in the absence of a given point, in the untimely setting of ambushes and the lack of communication. It was possible to agree only with the latter. Sustainable radio communication did not give any of the regular radio stations. This problem was solved only in October 1995, when the government of the Chechen Republic gave us Japanese radio stations. As for the first two allegations, they were completely false. But nobody believed our words. Then the idea of video documentation of all reconnaissance companies was born. Many took it hostile, calling it material for the prosecutor’s office and food for human rights defenders. Still decided to try. Having dropped from the salary, they purchased a small video camera. It turned out to be the most difficult to find an operator who would conduct video filming of military operations. None of the contractors did not want to change the machine for a video camera. I didn’t want to force him into an order, as not only the technical ability to use a video camera, but also artistic taste combined with the ability to shoot at risk to life, is needed for filming. Such an operator was a conscript fighter. Thanks to his bold and creative work, ambushes, training sessions and the daily life of the company were documented. The shooting of events on the square near the Dudayev Palace and the events in the village of Pervomaisky became especially famous. Much of the recorded we destroyed ourselves, something spoiled by time, but some records have become history of all GRU special forces of the first Chechen war period.
The company’s military backbone, which rested on contract servicemen, has been stable for eight months. It began to break up by the summer of 1996. On the causes and events that contributed to this, it is worth to tell more.
Last fights
For me, the first Chechen war ended in April 1996 of the year. Having been assigned to a higher position, I passed the cases to the new commander and departed to the brigade. Gradually, the daily worries of a peaceful life switched the psyche to a measured mood. Nevertheless, I was always interested in what was happening in Khankala, the successes and failures of the company.
Many things were told to me briefly by officers and fighters of the company who came to the brigade.
The new commander was not worse or better than me, he was just different. He had to build a relationship with the personnel, the soldiers had to get used to the peculiarities of the character of the commander, and he - to gain leadership experience during the fighting. All this takes time. It just was not.
Disturbing news Began to come in early summer. In the foothills, moving a mountain river, the armored personnel carrier was blown up. The driver was killed, one of those contract soldiers who came to us from the 205 brigade. A couple of weeks later, the eldest of the Vetochkins brothers was in the hospital with a through-wound from the right lung. We met when he was on the mend. At one of the hospital shops he told me a story that I remembered well.
Vetochkin said: “A major operation was carried out, in which all the forces of the detachment were engaged. It was in the foothills, near the village of Shalazhi. The company worked separately from the rest of the detachment's forces, in a mountainous and wooded area. Went to a given point, basted, overlaid with mines and sat for three days, not leading active actions. Such a seat is not for us, and we approached the company company with a request to allow us, contract soldiers, to wander around the district for a bit. He gave such permission only to two triples - mine and Spring. We went to look around. Studying the neighborhood, found a mountain road, not marked on the map. We decided to observe the first day and found that there is movement on it. We went "UAZ", full of "spirits", and trucks filled with armed men. When he returned, they reported to the company company, he allowed our troikas to go on an ambush again. The next day, moved to the road. She was in the gorge, and we had to go down for a long time to get to a comfortable position. Only we settled down, as appeared "UAZ". Letting me close, they opened fire. This time the "spirits" were shot. "Uazik", vilnuv, slid to the side of the road and stopped. The driver and the action movie in the front seat was shot right away. Those sitting in the back quickly jumped out, lay down behind the wheels and began to shoot back. The usual composition would get rid of them in three seconds, and here there were only half a group. While the three of Yarovoy connected them with fire, I went around the car from the left flank, it was about fifteen meters from him. To see the militants, I had to open up and get on the road. The first one shot right away. The second managed to move the fire in my direction. I saw him aiming and shooting at me. I even felt something hit in the chest. “What a bastard,” I thought, “you can kill it, too!” There was no fear, even some calmness engulfed, I carefully aimed at his head and made a single shot. Action jerked and froze. I give everyone a command to inspect the car. Match, "perfume" selected, well packaged, one had with him a commander's bag. All that you can, take away, "UAZ" set on fire. Only now I felt a strange taste in my mouth and a burning sensation in my chest, and the guys noticed bloody foam at the mouth. They tied me up here on the side of the road. Just started to leave, as the truck seemed full of militants. We had to leave up, loaded with trophies, and the guys dragged me, wounded, on themselves. The "spirits" noticed us, opened fire, but we passed over a small crest and disappeared from sight. Send us just two or two hundred and fifty meters. It was about eight kilometers to ours. It is clear that the "perfume" chase send. Somehow they dragged themselves to a wide clearing behind which tall trees began. Crossed her. Idaitov said it was convenient to meet the chase here. Militants do not bypass the slope, and when they cross, we will meet with fire. Their troika remained, and we stumbled on. Five minutes later, gunfire rang out, then shouts and firing again. Five minutes later, the three of Yarovoy caught up with us, saying that everything was in order. They shot two of them at once, and hit the third one. Now the "spirits" had not to think about the pursuit, but to engage the killed and wounded. The indiscriminate shooting behind us confirmed that the militants were still fighting with the clearing. Then I remember everything in a fog. I was dragged to the base, and I lost consciousness. Woke up here already. I know that they called the turntable and sent it to the hospital. ”
It was not long to rejoice in success, soon came the tragic news of the death of Sych, Idaitov and Yarovoy. There were no details, and everyone was lost in conjecture. I was very worried about the death of former subordinates who had become combat friends. Details managed to find out in a month. A fighter came to my office, performing duties as a videographer in a company. He was recently discharged from the hospital and came to say goodbye before being fired. From him I learned about what happened.
There was a hard way under Itum-Kale. The company was landed from helicopters far from the reconnaissance area. It was necessary to make the hardest fifty-kilometer march with the transition of passes and the fall of fighters in the waterfalls of mountain rivers. To the place of conducting intelligence came out in the evening. We spent the night, and in the morning Sych, Idaitov and Yarovaya went on reconnaissance. The rest of the personnel engaged in the equipment base. When it was ready, mines of OZM-72 were installed along the perimeter. Who was to blame for the fact that they did not inform the working troika about the mines, they did not find out. Communication, as usual, did not work, because the Japanese stations were given to the battalion commander's radio network, and our stations did not work well. Then the video cameraman ran to the returning Sych, Idaitov and Yarovoy towards, shouted and waved his hands so that they would stop, but they would not hear him. The stretch was torn off and OZM-72 jumping out of the glass interrupted the lives of three professionals.
The death of Sych, Idaitov and Yarovoy strongly undermined the morale of the detachment. Soon the detachment was evacuated.
After this ineffectual, but hard way, the massive dismissal of contract soldiers began. And with the signing of peace, the detachment returned to the brigade. Flowed everyday life, complicated by non-payment of wages. The army began to get rid of it became unnecessary contract. They themselves felt the "waste material" ended the war. And the majority quit themselves. We tried to keep the most worthy, but what could we offer them? Irregular working day with a salary below the subsistence minimum? Career growth? Or the opportunity to get an education in a prestigious university?
The Vetochkin brothers held on for some time, even finished the school of cooks in Novocherkassk to get the title of ensigns. After serving as deputy group commanders for a couple of months, they also quit.
Thus ended the “contract epic” of the 2 th company of the 173 th squad of the 22 th brigade of the Special Forces of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Model 1996 of the year. The country confidently approached a default, so it was not up to the contract. The next decade, they are then recruited, then fired.
Will there be a place in this category of soldiers in the new look of our army, time will tell.
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