Service in special forces reviews. The first days in the special forces: “You are already in the army, and this is not a dream

Do you think all conscripts run away from the military registration and enlistment office, hide with distant relatives, don’t sign on summons, and invent illnesses? No! There are those who want to serve in the army. If earlier such people were told in jokes, today this is a pattern. The guys come to the military registration and enlistment office on summons or earlier, before the offensive, and ask how to get into this or that branch of the military. Many people are interested in the Marine Corps, airborne troops and, of course, special forces. So they ask: how to get into the special forces upon conscription. The military registration and enlistment office is not omnipotent, but it answers such questions.

Life time

Before we touch on the service itself, let's 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 obligation 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 in ground units alone. In 1948, post-war demobilization ended, the number decreased by almost four times. And in 1949 a new law on service in ground units and aviation was issued. Its duration is 3 years, in naval units - 4 years, with conscription once a year in winter. Please note that at that time conscript soldiers were actually trained to pilot an airplane and operate various complex equipment; the training was complete and varied. After Stalin's death, the size of the army was reduced, the length of service was reduced by one year, and spring conscription was introduced. Institute graduates had the right to serve only for a year.

In those days, a guy who asked how to get into the special forces by conscription could well end up in a situation where he was taken to an unknown place, on an unknown basis, brought to the tent where his military unit was located, the street was dirty, but at the entrance there was clean 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 paid to the training of soldiers.

In October 2007, the service was shortened to 18 months, and in January 2008 - to 12 months. It seems like we are serving less, we should be happy. But this system has some disadvantages. The period for training soldiers has been significantly reduced and it is now difficult and sometimes impossible to train them as specialists.

How to get into special forces

You won't be able to serve in the special forces - the real one - by conscription. Sorry, but that's how it is. The very name of the special forces lies its essence - it is a group that performs non-standard tasks, not general military ones. That is, carrying out sabotage is the task of reconnaissance groups, which are in every military formation, and special forces are specialists, masters of their craft, ready to carry out the task in any conditions.

Everyone knows the Alpha group. Is it possible to get into special forces by conscription? Here are some brief conditions, and you will understand everything yourself. FSB special forces recruit warrant officers and officers; you must have a recommendation from current FSB employees or veterans. Your height must be at least 175 cm. This does not take into account 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, presses - 100 times, in the 100-meter dash you need to do it in 12.7 seconds, do 10 times bench press of your own weight, run 3 km in 11 minutes. In addition to all this, you need to show your skills and perseverance in hand-to-hand combat.

In addition to close work with a psychologist, immediate family members will be checked for criminal records, and the candidate himself must undergo a polygraph test.

Airborne Forces

Before you think about how to get into the airborne special forces, get into the airborne forces itself. Airborne troops are units with great history and traditions. Today, in order to get there, you need to have absolute health, athletic shape, otherwise you’ll be forced into forced marches, and desire.

Details such as smoking, alcohol, and heart disease should not be included in your personal file. Even if you have already quit or recovered, 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 that a conscript can get into; reconnaissance battalions already recruit only contract soldiers. It will be a plus if you have a rank or belt in some martial art. All that remains is 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 multifunctional type of troops in the Russian army. Soldiers can land from water and air, act in isolation from the main forces, in naval operations, capture and hold positions. Although they have small physical requirements, it is believed that everything else will be instilled in the troops. Health requirements are similar to 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 by conscription? The fact is that soldiers of the airborne assault units of the Airborne Forces and Marine Corps most often receive an invitation to join 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 registration and enlistment office looks like a king and a god who can send him anywhere and give a certain recommendation. If you have decided for yourself, then it is better to immediately ask the commission how to get into conscription to serve in special forces. 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 entirely within the capabilities of the military registration and enlistment office, if you are physically prepared, healthy and pass all the tests.

The military registration and enlistment office knows when and from which troops buyers are coming, and can send you to the collection 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 qualify for special forces? Do you agree to contract service and the physical and psychological stress that you will have to overcome? And besides this, have time to study, learn new things, get military specialization? Great! People like this always make me happy.

In this case, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle, not smoke, drink to a minimum or give up alcohol altogether. Playing sports and receiving sports awards is a must. Sports will teach you discipline and it will be easier in the army. Do exercises, douse yourself with cold water, boost your immunity. If you have a patriotic club in your city, start visiting it. Usually you can learn to shoot in them and learn basic army skills. If there is little time left before conscription, then also learn army combat, it is brutal, but it pays off when training a large number of people in a short time. If you have more than a year left before your draft, then you need to find a good martial arts trainer. Many people love martial arts, but it is better if it is closer to our mentality and better applicable in life.

In connection with requests regarding the opportunity to serve in Alpha, Vympel, and regional anti-terror units, we are posting this information, which will allow you to remove the initial standard questions and realistically assess your physical and psychological capabilities.

Primary selection

The selection system for anti-terrorism special forces is carried out in several stages. To serve in the special forces of the Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia, as a rule, officers and warrant officers are selected, as well as cadets of military schools as candidates for officer positions.

97% of positions in special forces are officer positions, and only 3% are warrant officer positions. Accordingly, an officer must have a higher education, and a warrant officer must have at least secondary education. Warrant officers are usually assigned to the positions of drivers and instructors.

Firstly, a candidate for special forces must be recommended by either a current TsSN employee or a veteran who previously served in Alpha, Vympel or Directorate S. Selection is also carried out from cadets of universities of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation or from border institutes of the FSB.

Preference is given to those who are already studying at the special forces department, which is located at the Novosibirsk Higher Combined Arms Command School. Children from the Moscow Higher Educational Institution are also being selected. Employees of the Center regularly come to all these educational institutions and carry out the initial selection. First, the cadets' personal files are examined, and then potential candidates are interviewed.

There is one serious physical limitation for candidates - height must be at least 175 cm. This is due to the fact that during operations, employees often use heavy armored shields of impressive size. For shorter employees, these protective equipment drag on the ground.

An exception may be made for a candidate whose professional merits outweigh his lack of height and can be used during a special operation to penetrate airplane hatches (as an example).

Another limitation is age. The candidate must be no older than 28 years old. True, an exception may be made for those who come to the TsSN from other law enforcement agencies and have combat experience.

Physical testing

Physical testing is divided into two stages, which take place on the same day. During the first, candidates pass physical training standards, followed by sparring in hand-to-hand combat.

The candidate arrives at the “facility” and changes into sportswear for the season. He must run a distance of three kilometers in 10 minutes 30 seconds. After the finish, he is given 5 minutes to rest, and then his sprinting qualities are tested in overcoming the hundred-meter race against the clock. The qualifying result is about 12 seconds.

Then, with a light jog, you need to go up to the gym, where the crossbar awaits the candidate. The candidate for Directorate “A” is required to do 25 pull-ups, and for Directorate “B” - 20. Here and below, after each exercise, 3 minutes of rest are given between exercises.

Next, you need to perform 90 flexions and extensions of the torso in two minutes. This is followed by push-ups from the floor. The test for Control “A” is 90 times, for Control “B” - 75. Sometimes push-ups can be replaced with push-ups on uneven bars. In this case, the required amount is 30 times.

The execution time is not strictly limited, but the candidate is not allowed to rest during execution. They also monitor quite strictly how the exercise is performed. If a candidate, in the opinion of the receiving employee, does not perform this or that exercise clearly, it will not be counted towards him.

After this, the candidate is asked to perform a complex strength exercise. For “A” and “B” - 7 and 5 times, respectively. A complex exercise includes 15 push-ups from the floor, 15 flexions and extensions of the torso (testing the abdominals), then 15 times moving from the “crouched” position to the “lying position” and back, then 15 jumps from the “crouched” position up.

Each exercise is given 10 seconds. The described cycle is a one-time execution of a complex exercise. There is no rest break between each exercise. Sometimes in Directorate “A” it is suggested to perform an endurance test - jump up 100 times.

Hand to hand combat

Having completed the physical test, the candidate rests for 3 minutes, after which, putting on protection on his legs, groin, helmet on his head, gloves on his hands, he goes out onto the wrestling mat. The candidate's opponent is an instructor or a well-trained employee. In this case, the candidate’s weight category is not taken into account, and an employee weighing under 100 kg can go up against him, weighing, for example, 75 kilograms. The fight consists of three rounds.

In the ring, the candidate is required to be active; passive defense is not encouraged. This is very difficult to do, given the loads that the candidate overcame during the physical tests. A completely fresh employee goes against him. Here, first of all, fighting qualities, the ability to attack, the ability to take a blow and, of course, will are tested. There were cases when masters of sports did not stand in the ring, and guys who did not have any serious sports titles, on the contrary, stubbornly attacked and rushed at the enemy.

To some extent, the hand-to-hand combat phase resembles a similar phase of testing candidates during the examination for the maroon beret. True, it must be said that the TsSN takes a more balanced approach to verification, without trying to kill the candidate. The instructor often lets the candidate work on his own, take the initiative, in order to understand what he can do. Although there were cases when arms and noses were broken during sparring. Sometimes, to test the ability to punch and kick, the candidate is allowed to work on a bag.

This phase of testing is completed. Preference is given to candidates with sporting achievements in martial arts, as well as boxing and wrestling. Although they also accept runners.

If a candidate for a special forces unit comes from other units of the Special Purpose Center, he may be subject to additional requirements. Shooting skills or swimming ability should be tested (100 meters for a while and 25 meters under water without any equipment).

Special check

Next comes the so-called special check, during which even all relatives are thoroughly checked. While this process is going on, the candidate undergoes an initial examination by a psychologist, who, with the help of tests, studies the personality of the subject, his character, temperament, moral attitudes, etc. During the interview, the psychologist also tries to identify the personality traits of the candidate and clarifies for himself some unclear points. It happens that candidates do not say something or lie.

Based on the results of the initial selection, the psychologist draws up a psychological profile of the candidate. It is filed in the special inspection file. This document is necessary for the future boss to understand what kind of person came to serve in the unit.

The candidate then undergoes an in-depth medical examination to determine his suitability for airborne training. Here he will also undergo a mandatory polygraph test.

The polygraph (also known as a “lie detector”) is intended, first of all, to identify “dark spots in the biography,” such as addiction to alcohol and drugs, connections with the criminal world, corruption motives, antisocial tendencies and other aspects.

Based on the results of the examination, a certificate is drawn up. The candidate's assessment is compiled in points, which gives a visible picture of how successfully he passed the tests. For example, the total number of possible points in physical training is 900. The minimum number of points from which a candidate begins to be considered for enrollment in the Center for Social Sciences is 700. The average passing score is 800.

Family conversation

After the candidate is recognized as having successfully passed the selection tests and is checked, an interview with his parents and wife is required. During the conversation, the nature and characteristics of service in special forces are explained to them.

The result of this interview must be the written consent of the parents and wife with the candidate’s admission to serve in the special forces. This procedure is primarily due to the fact that special forces perform tasks with an increased risk to life.

If the candidate has successfully completed all the stages and his relatives are not against his service in the TsSN, he is enlisted in the special forces as a young officer. These undergo an initiation ritual with the presentation of black berets and special “Antiterror” knives, which are officially adopted by special forces. They are also given gifts from the International Association of Veterans of the Alpha anti-terrorism unit (watches).

If the selected candidate does not show his best side, he may be expelled from the special forces.

Further preparation

In September-October, the Center conducts a training course for young employees, during which they engage in mountain and airborne training and other special disciplines. By the way, absolutely all employees of combat departments jump with a parachute.

Upon completion of this stage, young employees return to their units, where they undergo training within the units for three years. Already there there is a division into regular and non-regular positions.

Specialization training is a separate program that requires a long time and perseverance for an employee to become a true professional in his field. At the end of each year, the professional qualities and physical fitness of all Center employees are checked.

If young employees are taken on combat missions, it is only to perform some support functions. Only those who have served in the unit for at least two years, or employees who previously had combat experience, take part in special operations.

There is an unspoken rule at the Center that After enlisting in special forces, an employee is required to serve in it for at least five years. This is exactly the period needed to prepare a great anti-terror “action film.” The vast majority continue to serve.

Service in any branch of the Russian army is honorable; mastering each military specialty requires intellectual, moral, psychological and physical concentration from a person. The country's Armed Forces include units where only people with special qualities can serve. These are army special forces, separate groups within the regular army, which are entrusted with solving problems of a certain complexity. Only candidates with excellent health and high psychophysiological qualities will be able to be selected for special forces.

Types and tasks of special forces, general requirements of the RF Armed Forces

In the army of any state there are units formed according to the principles of subordination to individual branches of the military or various power structures. In our country, the following units have their own special forces:

• Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff;
• Navy;
• Marines;
• Border Troops;
• Ministry of Internal Affairs;
• Department of Corrections;
• Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The goals of each division are determined by the department under which it is located. Regardless of departmental affiliation, they may be assigned tasks aimed at:

• conducting reconnaissance and sabotage activities on enemy territory;
• preventing sabotage by a possible enemy against the Russian Federation;
• counterintelligence and anti-terrorism operations, including the release of hostages and the physical elimination of terrorists;
• security activities of strategically important objects and serious persons.

Ensuring public safety is primarily entrusted to the special forces of the internal troops, but if necessary, these tasks can be performed by other special units, participating in joint operations during public events.

Who are special forces

The activities of special forces are regulated by departmental regulatory and legal documentation. Taking into account the special nature of the operations being carried out, the units are equipped with special vehicles and specialized weapons.

Important! To train employees, enhanced training and education bases have been equipped, and personnel training centers have been created.

The level of physical training must ensure the performance of combat missions in particularly difficult conditions, including covertly, behind enemy lines. From an economic point of view, the state incurs large costs for employee training. Enormous material and scientific resources have been invested in providing special forces with weapons, transport and special equipment, so employees are equipped with the most advanced means of protection and evacuation. The special value of army personnel is due to their unique combat skills. Every fighter is perfect:

• knows the design, rules for using weapons and equipment in service with the world's armies;
• can use any available object as a weapon;
• masters several martial arts, knows how to use them in practice, so the military man himself is an effective weapon;
• has a high level of intelligence and learning ability;
• capable of instantly analyzing the situation and making the right decision;
• knows how to use artificial structures and landscape objects as shelter;
• able to act autonomously for a long time;
• trained in practical survival skills in extreme conditions;
• has a strong will and a stable psyche;
• knows how to provide first aid.

The list of unique skills of fighters is not exhausted by this list, and can be supplemented by the skills that are required to perform individual combat missions.

How to get into service in special units

Spetsnaz is the most professional part of the Russian army, so it is impossible to get into military service in special forces: there is no recruitment. It is inappropriate to spend time and money on training a high-level specialist if he leaves the unit after a year of military service. The staff includes positions that can only be filled by warrant officers and officers. The law establishes contract service in special forces, and it can be concluded for a period of at least 3 years. The following may apply for service in the structure:

• citizens who served conscription;
• contract employees in other branches of the military;
• graduates of higher military schools.

All applicants must have good characteristics from the place of service, meet the requirements for the state of health and psycho-emotional development of a special forces soldier.

Salary amount

Special rules regarding special forces employees are also reflected in the amount of remuneration, which consists of:

• salary according to position and rank;
• surcharges for secrecy and length of service;
• payments for difficulty and tension, as well as special conditions of service.

In addition to these components, departmental additional payments are also provided. The salary in peacetime is from 60,000 rubles. Going on a business trip leads to an increase in the amount of salary to 100 thousand rubles or more. Payments for participation in special operations depend on their complexity and duration.

Requirements for candidates

In order to get into one of the special forces, it is not enough to be a physically healthy adult citizen of the country. Candidates are subject to much more stringent requirements than when recruiting for other types of troops:

• age limit up to 28 years;
• height above 175 cm;
• ideal state of health;
• successfully passed testing of the physical capabilities of the body;
• passing psychological testing;
• compliance with the psychotype;
• passed a polygraph test;
• high moral qualities;
• excellent characterizing data from place of residence and previous work (service);
• recommendations from a current special forces officer;
• absence of a criminal record for the candidate and all his relatives;
• consent from close relatives (parents or spouse).

Attention! Restrictions on height and age parameters may be revised when an employee moves from another department if he has other professional qualities and specialized experience.

From the list of requirements it is clear that, having planned a career in a special forces unit, the candidate must prepare in advance for selection.

If the article does not answer all your questions, ask them in the comments section, a qualified lawyer will help solve your problem.

We are publishing the second part of Alexander K.’s memoirs about the experience of completing military service in the GRU special forces. In the first letter he... And this is a story about the first days of life in the barracks.

On December 10, 2008, the ceremonial departure of the conscripts took place. We, 30 people, were put on a bus and taken to the unit. My parents tried to persuade me to take more food with me, but I didn’t feel like eating at all. This is the feeling of not knowing what will happen to you next. You don’t really know where you’re going, you don’t know who you’re going with, and in general I didn’t quite believe that my time had come to serve.

We were brought to the unit around 18:00; it was already dark and cold. This is probably how I imagined my future place of service. Large gates, symmetrical four-story barracks, street lights - very beautiful! But then, like everyone else, I had no time for beauty. We were taken into the barracks, a very colorful officer counted us and took a roll call. He seemed colorful to me because he had such a handsome mustache, he was about 35-40 years old. I didn’t really understand ranks then, only later I realized that he was an ensign. Then they called 15 names, including mine, and left us on the first floor. The rest were taken to the second floor. As I realized later, I was very lucky. They lined us up again, examined us, and told us what to do. Then we signed our hats and peacoats and, under the leadership of the sergeant, went to wash. I describe my first hours in the army in such detail because this is a very important moment. It’s already closer to being sent to the troops, I imagined all this, but here you are already in the army and this is not a dream. In general, first impressions were justified.

Over the course of three days, conscripts arrived from all cities, day and night. A couple of days later there were already almost 200 of us on the floor. That's a lot. There were 60 people in my platoon, and in such a crowd we ran to wash ourselves and brush our teeth. What can I say? They also ran to the toilet. For so many people there were only 11 washbasins and three urinals. This is all, of course, taking into account the sergeants' washbasins and toilets. Everything is separate for them.

The sergeants curse every word, they shout at everyone, but don’t touch anyone. There are stern sergeants, and there are normal ones. Our platoon had three sergeants - two normal and one stern. A normal sergeant sometimes even lets those who want to call home.

Food in the army, of course, is also harsh. But it’s not even about the food, it’s about HOW it is eaten. Everything must be done on command: sit down at the table, start and finish eating. And everything is very fast. Of course, I don’t really like canteen food, but in the army I had to eat everything from the very first days. Constantly want to drink. There was very little water, but this was probably due to the adaptation period.

Basically, the first days flew by quickly. We wake up - it’s dark, we go to formation for the anthem, then breakfast, then cleaning, then lunch, then preparing for the next day. Well, drill and some statutory training. The hardest thing for me, and probably for everyone, is the climb. In a couple of minutes, in a small space, very small: you need to wrap up foot wraps (I wish I knew how to wrap them!!!), put on three pants, a vest, and a bunch of other things, tighten my belt. Those who don’t have time or do something wrong do push-ups.

From the very first days, some people began to develop calluses. I didn’t have them yet, but it was only a week until the ankle boots were issued.