Word on Defender of the Fatherland Day – brave and courageous

February 23 – Defender of the Fatherland Day – in Russia is considered the day of military glory, a holiday of people who participated and are participating in the defense of the Motherland. By tradition, on this day, heroes – past and present – are honored in every work collective, in every Russian family.

Providing a metropolis with drinking water and a reliable water supply is a job for the most part male. It is natural that in the country’s largest water company, Mosvodokanal, 73.5% of employees are representatives of the strong half of humanity. Most of them have completed military service, and some even have combat experience. Therefore, the main men’s holiday in this company is treated with great respect.

“This day of military glory is dear and memorable to many generations of Russians. No wonder it is celebrated in every home, in every family. On February 23, we traditionally say words of gratitude to our veterans of the Great Patriotic War, members of the labor front, veterans of military operations. To all those who at various times defended our Motherland in severe battles, as well as to those who serve it today, protecting its sovereignty and national interests. May this holiday of brave and courageous people always be peaceful and joyful!” – says the general director of JSC “Mosvodokanal” Alexander Mikhailovich Ponomarenko.

The army makes real men out of young people. It is here that character is tempered, strong male friendship is forged. Those who have passed this test know that time spent in the army is well spent. But for each person this period is associated with their memories. Here are some of them.

Hard to learn, easy to fight

Mikhail Levchenko, mechanic-repairman of the 5th category of the workshop for the repair and maintenance of mechanical equipment of the Lyubertsy treatment facilities of Mosvodokanal JSC:

– I was drafted into the Soviet army in 1987, served in Nagorno-Karabakh, the city of Stepanakert, then in Afghanistan, Kandahar province. In 1989 he returned home. He served in the army as a driver.

I remember that it was hard in the training (educational part). There were constant forced marches, there we were seriously tempered. And it later came in very handy during the whole service. But we were already prepared for these tests. I happened to serve in hot spots, but I do not regret it.

The army builds character

Igor Shushnaev, mechanic of emergency and restoration works of the 5th category of the district for the operation of water supply network No. 9 of the PU “Mosvodoprovod” of JSC “Mosvodokanal”:

– I remember that in the army before February 23, a well-known television channel came to our unit to film a story about the harsh everyday life of tankers. I was the commander of the T-72B3 tank. This is a reliable vehicle, the Russian main battle tank of the T-72 family. It was very funny, because we were in uniforms, but the reporters were in light, light-colored sneakers. It was raining, there was dirt everywhere. We are no strangers, but the reporters also endured. There were many takes, we constantly got out and got into the tank, the shooting went on all day …

I believe that the army instilled in me a lot of positive qualities, from the basic ability to make a bed and get up sharply on any call to more serious habits, such as discipline.

Today, for example, is a day off, but I woke up not from the alarm, but simply from the vibration of the phone. Such is the army habit remained.

Honorable duty – to serve the Motherland

Vyacheslav Egorov, mechanic-repairman of the 4th category of the workshop for the repair of mechanical equipment of the Lyubertsy treatment facilities of Mosvodokanal JSC:

– When I went to the army, I didn’t really think about what would happen there. Motherland called – and went. I served in the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation in the city of Pskov.

The meaning of the service is to overcome the difficulties of which the entire service consisted. The most striking impression in the army is the shooting of weapons. I shot from an AK-12 assault rifle, and at first I didn’t succeed. First, we were instructed. Then we were given cartridges, in order of formation we went out to the line of fire. The most important thing that I remember in the briefing is that you can’t aim a weapon at a person, at your comrade.

There are no trifles in the army …

Alexey Kruzhalin, Head of the Department for Coordination and Control of Activities of Mosvodokanal JSC:

– I served in 1983-86 in the special forces of the GRU and started it in a training unit in the city of Pechory. One day, before tactical exercises, the platoon leader in the formation announced: we are taking with us all (!!!) fixed equipment. But I really didn’t want to carry a gas mask with me, and I first asked my friends in the ranks, and then the commander: “Comrade lieutenant, should I take a gas mask with me?” And repeated it several times. After my next question, the platoon commander looked at me very carefully and said: “Whoever finds it hard can not take it …”

We ran for a long time, breaking away from the imaginary enemy, and finally, near the local river Pimzha, the commander led us into a tall dry nettle, took out a YADG grenade and ignited it with pleasure, first one, and immediately after it another. Why did he get into nettles? Yes, because the smoke is kept in it for a very long time. The command followed: “Gases!” – and everyone who had gas masks did it. Everyone except me… I tried in vain to save myself with earflaps, but our platoon commander, being a tremulous and sincere person, beat my hands off my face along with my hat, giving me plenty to breathe, and then I rushed through the smoke and nettles to the nearest hill. But since I could see practically nothing, I soon put my head against a huge pine tree and began to butt it. As my friends later said, they thought that I decided to gore her and fill her up.

Why did I remember this old story? .. This incident taught me, a young rookie, that a scout has nothing superfluous. Everything that he is supposed to have according to the staff list must be with him, and, most importantly, in good condition. In critical situations, it saves lives. I became convinced of this while fulfilling my international duty in the DRA.

On February 23, I would like to congratulate all men “who do not laugh in the circus”, who served in the army, navy or border troops, all those who honestly paid their debt to the Motherland.

At the call of the heart

Alexander Gusakov, foreman of emergency and restoration works of the area for the operation of the water supply network No. 9 of the PU “Mosvodoprovod” of JSC “Mosvodokanal”:

I joined the army of my own free will. He came to the military registration and enlistment office, asked. At first, they were even surprised: they thought maybe he had done something. But they checked, everything is fine in my biography, there were no offenses. The military commissar handed the summons. I was sent to the Khabarovsk Territory, and from there I was transferred to the troops, where I served in the Vyatich special forces unit.

The most striking impression is that I made many friends there. At the moment, only a few people can compare with them in civilian life – these are the guys with whom you live and communicate. But the friendship that was in the army cannot be found in civilian life.

Skydiving is adrenaline, emotions

Alexey Vybornov, foreman of the production site of the Lyuberetsky treatment facilities of Mosvodokanal JSC:

– I wanted to serve in the army in the navy, but ended up in the airborne troops, but I was not at all upset about this. At first it was hard, but then you get used to it, and everything becomes normal.

My most vivid impression is the first parachute jump. Well, the next ones too, because it’s adrenaline, emotions. The first jump is kind of scary, and then you land and think: why did I land so quickly, I want it again, get me back on the plane!

Before serving in the army, I did not think that February 23 was my holiday, there was no such confidence. And then, when I passed all the tests of the service, I realized that I was a real defender of the Motherland.

Nina DONSKIKH.