It is no secret to anyone that ensuring the safety of citizens is a paramount state task that can only be successfully accomplished thanks to a professional combat-ready army. Moreover, it is very important to ensure the protection and integrity of territorial borders, and the armed forces are succeeding in the person of the border troops. They can provide a peaceful sky above your head.
It should be noted that service at the border is a school of fidelity to the motherland and patriotism. From century to century, the great military traditions of a soldier guarding the territory of the Fatherland are passed on.
A bit of history
It should be emphasized that the border troops appeared long ago, their history spans several centuries. Even in ancient times, when nomads attacked Russia, the princes were forced to build heroic outposts and fortresses on the outskirts of their possessions.
The border troops of the country of the Soviets were established by special order of the Council of People's Commissars on May 28, 1918. During the civil war, the soldiers guarding the state border became subordinate to the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs. It is on May 28 that Day of the Border Troops is celebrated in our country.
It was especially difficult for soldiers in "green caps" during the Great Patriotic War. It was they who staunchly and heroically took upon themselves the main blow of the fascist invaders. A vivid confirmation is the defense of the Brest Fortress: about 17,000 soldiers were awarded with medals and orders, and over 150 people earned the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
In the post-war years, border troops became controlled by the Main Directorate of the KGB of the USSR. In 1993, the Federal Border Service was established, and in the spring of 2003 the head of state abolished it and transferred the functions of the FSB.
Features of the structure of the border troops
The main fighting force of the troops guarding the border of our state is a border outpost, which is based at a remote distance from large settlements. Its strength usually varies from 30 to 50 fighters.
Also, border troops are empowered to exercise control at seaports, airports, checkpoints, as well as international automobile checkpoints.
The image of the border guard in Soviet cinema
A huge number of films on military subjects were shot in the USSR, and every resident of the country of that period knew what a real border guard looked like. It was a brave warrior who carefully looks out for trespassers with binoculars. And, of course, next to the soldier is always a faithful and devoted friend - a dog. Even today it helps to find drugs and explosive devices at international automobile checkpoints, despite the fact that the border troops have modern and technological weapons in their arsenal.
Combat vehicles
Currently, soldiers protecting the territorial integrity of the country can use combat helicopters, cargo planes, military boats and ships to carry out their tasks.
Frontier service today
In modern conditions, service in the border troops is an honorable and responsible mission. Today it is performed by about one hundred thousand officers and soldiers.
Many young people today are attracted by contract service. Recently, border troops have consisted only of mercenaries - this is a common practice. Currently, about 11 regional border service departments are successfully functioning, which protect about 60,932.8 kilometers of Russian borders from encroachment. Every day in our country, over 10,000 outfits come into service, 80 planes and helicopters, 100 border ships are used.
The border troops of Russia responsibly fulfill their function on the external borders of Tajikistan and Armenia. Border guard operations teams were previously formed in Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. Moreover, it should be noted that our soldiers are actively participating in the ranks of the KFOR peacekeeping forces to resolve the conflict in Kosovo.
Today, the structure of the FSB includes border guards, institutions of the previously abolished Federal Border Guard Service, as well as all structures, buildings and the material and technical base necessary for the maintenance of troops protecting the integrity of the state.
Requirements for Frontier Guards
Guys who want to replenish the FSB border troops must necessarily serve in the army and be morally stable. In 2008, tightened requirements for those who want to become a soldier guarding the state border.
At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the fact that military service in the military branch above was canceled, and now only those who go to serve under the contract can try on green caps. You also need to take into account the age criterion - border guards accept from 18 to 38 years. It is welcomed when a young man had previously performed military service at the border. Young people dreaming of border troops should also remember that only those who have received full secondary education are worthy of this. Well, and, of course, the future border guard soldier must have impeccable health, both in the physical and mental sense of the word. No less important is the moral training of the soldier, since the specifics of the service involves a long stay of a person away from settlements, and in a purely male collective.
What qualities a soldier should possess
The protection of state borders involves the maintenance of border patrols. In other words, a soldier must patrol considerable distances on foot (20-30 kilometers), and not always in comfortable conditions, for example, in mountainous areas. That is why the border guard must be as hardy as possible.
However, this is not enough to perfectly protect the borders of the motherland. It is important at any time to be vigilant and be able to quickly concentrate at the time of danger. To combat the enemy was effective, do not interfere with skills in hand-to-hand combat and the ability to organize ambushes.
Who selects candidates for border guards
Those who dream of serving in the border troops should write a statement and address it to the FSB border control at the place of residence. As a rule, consideration of the application and verification of all documents takes from two to three months. It should be noted that the verification is carried out in a thorough manner. All the family ties of the potential border guard are studied in detail, and if it suddenly turns out that the brother or uncle of the future defender was in trouble with the law, then it is very likely that service at the border will be denied.
Outfit
Interesting enough is the question of what kind of clothes the border guards wore. It should be noted that after the October Revolution the form of the border troops was no different: a gray overcoat, dark blue harem pants, a cap with a blue band and boots with spurs.
In the 30s of the last century, when the border troops were part of the structure of the NKVD, it was decided to sew a uniform for soldiers different from the Red Army. Now the soldiers began to wear a cap with a light green top and a chin strap in black. A khaki-colored wool cap was provided for the commanders , and the rank-and-file staff wore a cotton cap without edging. At the same time, as before, the budenovka helmet of a grayish shade was preserved. There was an innovation: Soviet fashion designers came up with a gray cloak-coat made of wool.
In the 40s, the country's leadership decided to minimize the variety of forms of military clothing, since it was necessary to optimize it to the maximum in wartime conditions. The uniform color of clothes was chosen for all soldiers. At the same time, warm uniforms and earflaps were invented.
During the Great Patriotic War epaulettes were introduced, which in the border troops were made in the likeness of epaulettes of pre-revolutionary Russia. The soldiers guarding the state borders wore double-breasted uniforms at that time. Top management of the border troops had the right to wear green stripes.
Over time, Soviet uniforms became more and more like European military clothing, for example, it was decided to abandon the blue color of trousers, and the costume for soldiers became plain. The rank-and-file dressed in uniform shirts with a tie, as they were obliged to wear an open single-breasted suit. The officers were allowed to flaunt in a formal dress of aquamarine color. Subsequently, additional accessories appeared on the form: the letters āPVā began to appear on the uniform of border guards.
Today, an integral attribute of a soldier guarding the borders of the Motherland is a green beret and a cap with a green tulle.
It should be noted that the modern uniform of the border guard cannot be called ideal, and work on its modernization is in full swing.
Flag
It is very curious that the flag of the border troops in the fleet, approved at the state level in the 1920s, as well as the uniform of the soldiers, is green. In other words, it was a cloth of light green hue, on which in the upper left corner a small version of the flag of the Navy in the canton flaunted.
The modern flag of the border troops is a four-pointed cross of emerald color against a crimson background, in the center of which is the emblem of the Federal Border Guard Service of the Russian Federation with silver swords.