Recently, when the world has become particularly uneasy, I can't help but remember my army youth. I joined the soldiers ' formation in Grozny in the 42nd. They called us for a special recruitment, initiated by the Chita regional Komsomol Committee and the regional committee of Osoaviakhim. All our military training consisted of the knowledge that we managed to acquire in the school circles of the defense sports society for the promotion of aviation, army and chemical defense and in the short-term courses "Vsevoenobuch".

I, like many of my peers, was by that time a "full cavalier" of all defense badges: GTO (ready for labor and defense), GS O (ready for sanitary defense), GPVHO (ready for air and chemical defense) and VS (Voroshilov shooter). In short, we were essentially schoolboys who only knew the basics of military training. But these skills were also very useful to us at the front. Military skills had to be mastered in a combat situation.

I remember that in 1942, the mass sniper movement was widely developed at the front. Since I am a native of Transbaikalia, a born hunter, I, of course, wanted to master sniper business. I submitted a report to the court with a request to enroll in sniper courses. They were organized right there, on the front line, in our regiment. My request was granted. But since I was a company submachine gunner, I had to go to classes in a sniper platoon, as they say, on-the-job.

The sniper instructor in our regiment was a Leningrad woman named N. P. Petrova, who later became a full knight of the Order of Glory. Under her leadership, I quickly learned the design of a sniper rifle, methods of firing from it, learned to choose a position, disguise myself, monitor the enemy, track the enemy. Having successfully passed the exams, I got the right to act independently. I was pretty good at it. I opened my personal account... But no one forced me to master the sniper business, it was my personal initiative and a burning desire to master a related military specialty.

When the expulsion of the Nazi invaders from our land began, the fascists began to use large-scale mining. The roads were literally filled with anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. The enemy mined houses, structures, bridges, set tricky mine traps. There was a need to be able to recognize, detect and neutralize any mine devices. Without this knowledge and skills, we suffered unforeseen losses.

Again, of my own volition, I mastered this case as well. I learned to calmly defuse mines, solve mine surprises of the enemy. He could tie up a charge from tolov checkers and blow up an enemy fortification with it, which he had to use many times in offensive battles. In addition, I have repeatedly fired from an anti-tank rifle, flamethrower, grenade launcher.

It's true what they say: you're not born a soldier, you become one. Believe a front-line soldier: a soldier who can do a lot is worth his weight in gold in a combat situation. So my order is to be inquisitive soldiers, love the weapons and equipment entrusted to you, and achieve complete interchangeability in your units, as we did at the front.

Two years of military service is a short time. Here you will pass the 'strength' test). And you will have to learn a lot during this time: master modern military equipment and weapons so that you can skillfully use them in a combat situation, harden your will and character so as not to get lost among dangers, become physically strong, agile, hardy. Do not waste your time, do not waste it on trifles.

As for our front-line experience, let it be an example for you to follow in combat training and service.

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