Russian Border Guard Forces: flag, form and contract service

It's no secret that ensuring the safety of citizens is a paramount state task that can be successfully carried out only thanks to a professional, efficient army. At the same time, it is very important to ensure the protection and integrity of territorial borders, and the armed forces succeed in the face of the border troops. They can provide a peaceful sky over their heads.

It should be noted that the service at the border is a school of loyalty to the Motherland and patriotism. From century to century, the great military traditions of a soldier guarding the territory of the Motherland are transferred.

A bit of history

It should be emphasized that the border troops appeared long ago, their history is several centuries old. Even in ancient times, when the nomads attacked Russia, the princes were forced to build on the outskirts of their possessions heroic outposts and fortresses-cities.

The border troops of the country of the Soviets were established by a special order of the Council of People's Commissars on May 28, 1918. During the civil war, soldiers guarding the state border, went under the authority of the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs. It is on May 28 that the Day of Frontier Forces is celebrated in our country.

It was especially difficult for soldiers in "green caps" during the Great Patriotic War. It was they who firmly and heroically assumed the main blow of the fascist invaders. A striking confirmation is the defense of the Brest Fortress: about 17,000 soldiers were awarded medals and orders, and over 150 people earned the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

In the post-war years, the border troops became under the control of 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 border troops

The main combat strength of the troops guarding the border of our state is the border post, which is based at a remote distance from large settlements. Its strength usually ranges from 30 to 50 fighters.

Also, the border troops have the authority to exercise control in seaports, airports, checkpoints, and international road checkpoints.

The image of a border guard in Soviet cinema

In the USSR, a huge number of films were shot on military topics, and every resident of the country of that period knew what a real border guard looks like. It was a brave warrior who carefully looks out for border violators with binoculars. And, of course, next to the soldier is always a loyal and faithful friend - a dog. Even today, it helps to find drugs and explosives at international automobile checkpoints, despite the fact that the border troops have modern and technological weapons in their arsenal.

Combat vehicles

At present, soldiers guarding the territorial integrity of the country can use helicopter gunships, cargo planes, military boats and ships to carry out their tasks.

Border Guard Service today

In modern conditions, the service in the border troops is an honorable and responsible mission. Today it is carried out by about one hundred thousand officers and soldiers.

Many young people today are attracted by contractual service. The frontier troops have recently been made up of mercenaries only - this is a very common practice. Currently, about 11 regional departments of the border service successfully function, which protect from encroachment about 60,932.8 kilometers of Russian borders. Every day more than 10,000 outfits are recruited in our country, 80 aircraft and helicopters, and 100 border ships are used.

The Russian border troops have a responsible role at the external borders of Tajikistan and Armenia. Formerly, operative groups of the border guard service in Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Kazakhstan were formed. Moreover, it should be noted that our soldiers take an active part in the ranks of the KFOR peacekeeping forces for the settlement of the conflict in Kosovo.

Today, the structure of the FSB includes the bodies of the border service, the institutions of the previously abolished FPS, as well as all facilities, buildings and the material and technical base necessary for maintaining troops that protect the integrity of the state.

The requirements that are imposed on border guards-recruits

The guys who want to replenish the FSB border troops must necessarily serve in the army and be morally stable. In 2008, they tightened the requirements for those who want to become a soldier guarding the state border.

At the same time, one should take into account the fact that the emergency service in the above-mentioned army type was abolished, and now only those who are on contract can try on green caps. It is also necessary to take into account the age criterion - in border guards take from 18 to 38 years. It is welcomed when a young man previously served on the border. Young people who dream about border troops should also remember that only those who have completed a full secondary education are worthy of it. And, of course, the future border guardian must have impeccable health, both in the physical and mental sense of the word. Equally important is the moral preparation of the soldier, since the specifics of the service presuppose a long stay of a person far from populated areas, and in a strictly male collective.

What are the qualities of a soldier

The protection of state borders implies the carrying out of a border patrol. In other words, a soldier should patrol a significant distance on foot (20-30 kilometers), and not always in comfortable conditions, for example, in a mountainous area. That's why the border guard should be as hardy as possible.

However, this is not enough to protect the borders of the Motherland irreproachably. It is important at all times to be vigilant and be able to quickly concentrate at the time of the danger. To combat the enemy was effective, do not interfere with the skills of possession of 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 the appropriate application and address it to the FSB border management at their place of residence. As a rule, it takes from two to three months to review the application and verify all documents. It should be noted that the verification is carried out in the most thorough manner. All the family ties of the potential border guard are thoroughly studied, and if it suddenly turns out that the brother or uncle of the future defender had disagreements with the law, it is very likely that the service at the border will be refused.

Outfit

The question of what kind of clothes border guards were wearing is quite interesting. It should be noted that after the October Revolution the form of the frontier troops was nothing special: a gray overcoat, dark blue trousers, a cap with a blue band and boots with spurs.

In the 30 years of the last century, when the frontier troops were part of the NKVD, it was decided to sew for soldiers a form different from the Red Army. Now the soldiers began to wear a cap with a light green top and a black chin strap. For commanders, a woolen khaki cap was provided , and the rank and file crew wore a cotton cap without a lip. At the same time, as before, the gray-gray helmet was preserved. There was also an innovation: the Soviet fashion designers came up with a coat-coat of gray color, 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 conditions for wartime. A uniform color for all soldiers was chosen. At the same time, warm clothes and caps with earflaps were invented.

During the Great Patriotic War, epaulettes were introduced, which in the border troops were made in the likeness of the epaulettes of pre-revolutionary Russia. Soldiers guarding state borders were at that time wearing double-breasted uniforms. The senior leadership 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 suit for soldiers became monophonic. Ordinary dressed in uniform shirts with a tie, because they had to wear an open single-breasted suit. Officers were allowed to sport aquamarine in a ceremonial dress. Subsequently on the form there were additional accessories: on epaulettes of frontier guards the letters "ПВ" began to flash.

Today, an integral attribute of a soldier guarding the borders of the Motherland is a green beret and a cap with a green crown.

It should be noted that modern border guard uniforms can not be called ideal, and work on its modernization is in full swing.

Flag

Very interesting is the fact that the flag of the border troops in the fleet, approved at the state level in the 20s of the last century, as well as the uniform of the soldiers, is green. In other words, it was a leaf of a salad shade on which a smaller version of the flag of the Navy in the canton flaunted in the upper left corner.

The modern flag of the border troops is a four-pointed cross of emerald color on a scarlet background, in the center of which is the emblem of the Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation with silver swords.