Psychologists have an anecdote: "The day of the border guard is the professional day of all psychotherapists." Everyone laughs, everyone understands. But what exactly is meant by "borderline"? It is difficult to find a more slippery and multifaceted concept in psychology. Is that the word "neurotic" (smile). Borderline situation, borderline personality disorder, borderline part, borderline client (patient) - there are so many different terms with this word. And in a place where psychiatric, psychoanalytic and Gestalt paradigms clash, one can generally drown. So in this article I will only try to briefly describe what is meant by "borderliness" in modern clinical gestalt therapy, and what kind of personality can be defined as borderline-organized.
It is worth mentioning that in Gestalt therapy we talk more about the borderline that we all have. The degree of its expressiveness and integration is different. This part is responsible for attachment, the ability to experience contact, intimacy, belonging. We can say that a borderline person is one who has suffered greatly at the border of contact. Metaphorically, this is a screaming baby who has grown up, but has not matured. He did not have enough opportunity to form autonomy, for lack of a stable adult who could contain and process his childhood affects. In other words, such a child was punished for being a child. And in order to (psychologically) survive, he had to sacrifice his identity, his true self, in order to maintain attachment. Therefore, love and intimacy are now forever associated with the risk of losing yourself through absorption or abandonment.
The world of people around him is still frighteningly unpredictable and chaotic, but the ways of dealing with his own anxiety are no longer infantile. In relationships, only two strategies are available for the border guard: to control himself (his expression, especially "negative") or to control the other - through idealization, the destruction of which is equal to the destruction of relations. The fear of rejection is the axis on which all the behavior of a borderline person is strung. He does everything to avoid this experience, but he constantly stumbles upon it, due to his perception of reality.
People with a borderline constantly fly into idealized relationships in a desperate attempt to gain recognition and support, but they themselves are not able to withstand the other person in all his complexity and ambivalence. Dialogue is too complicated and unattainable for them, since there is not enough experience of "recoding" emotional affects into the symbolic fabric of relationships. because of big difference in the conceptual field, find themselves in some isolation; to find a common language is obtained with people of a similar structure. Feelings of helplessness and defenselessness that they may experience in contact are compensated by manipulation, although this usually remains beyond awareness.
Borderline dynamics is considered one of the most difficult to treat. Perhaps this is the most unpleasant category of clients (patients), even working with "psychotics" can bring more satisfaction. With a borderline client, it is difficult to feel like a competent and successful therapist. At least for a long time... Such a client must act out the split parts of the parent object - the "good" and the "bad" mother - in turn, from "the only person who understands me" to "the one who rejected me, betrayed me, re- traumatized, disappointed…" and so on, in the context of the case.
Severely borderline clients can't handle almost any frustration, and it takes months just to help them formulate a real therapeutic request. They, like no one else, need psychological help, but the scale of the destruction of the personality is so serious that it is simply impossible to provide it. Here is a metaphor invented by one of my colleagues to describe the therapeutic process. If a neurotic drives a "faulty car" to a technical service, and you, with his help, repair it, then it takes the same time with a border guard just to notice that the car is broken. And this is still a good forecast.
Of course, the depth of violations (borderline) can be different; the more secure the client, the faster and more chances to "grow" him to a neurotic level - the function of the Ego can grow stronger, the "observing Ego" can be formed.
In the borderline client, the Ego function is lost (or difficult to manage), while the Id function is powerful and aroused. Therefore, a choice as such is not made, but rather a person cannot help but act in a certain way. The well-known impulsiveness of the border guards is also due to the fact that the Personality function is polar (either black or white), and also poorly recognizes and differentiates excitation. Judgments are flattened, subjectively significant and emotionally colored, taken out of context, they are characterized by over-generalizations (so that you can squeeze a multifaceted reality into your paradigm). Because the functioning of the Self is hindered, borderline clients learn poorly or not at all. They repeat the same mistakes, from time to time experiencing rage and hopelessness.
The sense of one's own "I" is always drawn into the struggle, blurred and tense. Such a person lives hysterically, overflowing with strong, non-ambivalent feelings, he is easily wounded to death, and at the same time he is not aware of his own aggressiveness. They perfectly test reality (unlike persons suffering from psychoses), are super-sensitive to the field, accurately read the emotions and moods of people. The only thing they can't observe is their own pathology. As a rule, they are satisfied with everything in themselves, but there are a lot of claims against others. Often people come to therapy at the suggestion of loved ones, or under the pressure of strong everyday circumstances.
People with a borderline structure, at first glance, are in many ways similar to traumatists, resemble addicts, they are also sometimes confused with schizoids (especially in the phase of distance). But in fact, these are all very different categories. According to the level of integration (preservation), border guards are closest to daffodils. Here are the main hallmarks of a borderline personality:
- Vulnerability of borders and internal disintegration (figurativeness, magic, global perception);
- Diffuse identity; it is extremely difficult for them to describe themselves, describe themselves (and others too) either globally or dryly, stereotyped (" a common person"," normal woman ", etc.);
- The use of immature and aggressive defenses (idealization-depreciation, splitting, projection) are quickly affected;
- Limited ability to observe one's processes ("observing ego" absent);
- Counter-transference is always powerful; feelings for them can range from deep empathy to intense anger, fear, hopelessness, or sexual attraction.
The borderline personality solves problems with the mother figure all his life. Mom is always alive. The anxiety of borderline clients is of a separation nature and is often mistaken for love. Often the object of affection is hated because the other fills the gaps in the boundaries, becomes part of the individual. Hence the dependence and lack of freedom in dealing with the object of love. For the most strong passion, with questions of life and death in the literal sense of the word, only border guards are capable of.
It is incredibly difficult for them to experience intimacy, to withstand the tension of uncertainty; they are overwhelmed by jealousy, fear of rejection, fear of dissolving in another ... But loneliness is even more unbearable. The border guard is always in some kind of relationship, but unlike a dependent person, he is quite aggressive. Not recognizing his own destructiveness, he projects it outward, and if the environment turns out to be tough enough, he can easily change the role of the victim to the role of the punisher. Such clients often create an intense struggle in their relationship with the therapist in order to be able to separate from him.
The specifics of therapy for borderline clients require separate, lengthy texts. I can only say that if a more or less long-term therapy does happen (the border guard is kept in the alliance), each case is unforgettable. As my supervisor once said: "Yes, they are hard. But you must admit, it is such clients that make us therapists!"
It's no secret that ensuring the security of citizens is a paramount state task that can be successfully carried out only thanks to a professional, combat-ready army. At the same time, it is very important to ensure the protection and integrity of territorial borders, and the armed forces succeed in this in the person of the border troops. It is they who can provide a peaceful sky overhead.
It should be noted that service at the border is a school of loyalty to the Motherland and patriotism. From century to century, the great fighting traditions of a soldier protecting the territory of the Fatherland are passed on.
A bit of history
It should be emphasized that the border troops appeared quite a long time ago, their history goes back several centuries. Even in ancient times, when nomads attacked Russia, the princes were forced to build heroic outposts and fortress-cities on the outskirts of their possessions.
The countries of the Soviets were established by a special order of the Council of People's Commissars on May 28, 1918. During the civil war, the soldiers guarding the state border came under the control of the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs. It is on May 28 that our country celebrates the Day of the Border Troops.
It was especially difficult for soldiers in "green caps" during the Great Patriotic War. It was they who steadfastly and heroically took the brunt of the fascist invaders. A striking confirmation is 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, they 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 the border troops
The main combat force of the troops guarding the border of our state is the border outpost, which is based at a remote distance from large settlements. Its strength usually varies from 30 to 50 fighters.
They are also empowered to exercise control at seaports, airports, checkpoints, as well as international road checkpoints.
A huge number of films on military topics 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 violators of the border through binoculars. And, of course, next to a soldier there is always a faithful and devoted friend - a dog. Even today, it helps to find drugs and explosive devices at international road 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.
Border Guard today
In modern conditions, service in the border troops is an honorable and responsible mission. Today it is performed by about a hundred thousand officers and soldiers.
Many young people today are attracted to contract service. Border troops have recently consisted only of mercenaries - this is quite a common practice. Currently, about 11 regional border service departments are successfully operating, which protect about 60,932.8 kilometers of Russian borders from encroachment. Every day in our country over 10,000 outfits enter the service, 80 aircraft and helicopters, 100 border ships are used.
The border troops of Russia responsibly perform their function on the external borders of Tajikistan and Armenia. Previously, operational groups of the border service were formed in Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Moreover, it should be noted that our soldiers are actively involved in the ranks of the KFOR peacekeeping forces to resolve the conflict in Kosovo.
Today, border service bodies, institutions of the previously abolished FPS, as well as all structures, buildings and material and technical base necessary for the maintenance of troops protecting the integrity of the state are included in the list.
Requirements for new recruits
Guys who want to replenish the border troops of the FSB must definitely 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 must take into account the fact that military service in the above-mentioned branch of the armed forces was canceled, and now only those who go to serve under a 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 person has previously served in the military at the border. Young people dreaming about the border troops should also remember that only those who have received a complete secondary education are worthy of this. And, of course, the future border guard must have impeccable health, both in the physical and mental sense of the word. The moral preparation of a soldier is no less important, since the specifics of the service involve a long stay of a person away from settlements, and in a purely male team.
What qualities should a soldier have?
The protection of state borders involves the carrying out of border patrol. In other words, a soldier must patrol considerable distances (20-30 kilometers) on foot, 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 impeccably protect the borders of the Motherland. It is important to be vigilant at any time and be able to quickly concentrate at the moment of danger. In order for the fight against the enemy to be effective, hand-to-hand combat skills and the ability to organize ambushes will not interfere.
Who selects candidates for border guards
Those who dream of serving in the border troops must write a corresponding application and address it to the border department of the FSB at the place of residence. As a rule, it takes two to three months to review the application and check all documents. It should be noted that the verification is carried out in the most thorough manner. All family ties of a 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
Quite interesting is the question of what clothes the border guards wore. It should be noted that after the October Revolution, the uniform of the border troops was no different: a gray overcoat, dark blue trousers, 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 the soldiers that was different from the Red Army. Now the soldiers began to wear a cap with a light green top and a black chin strap. A wool cap was provided for the commanders, and the rank and file wore a cotton cap without piping. At the same time, as before, the Budyonovka helmet was preserved. grayish tint. There was also 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 clothing, as it was necessary to optimize it to the maximum extent for wartime conditions. A single color of clothing was chosen for all soldiers. At the same time, warm uniforms and hats with earflaps were invented.
During the Great Patriotic War, shoulder straps were introduced, which in the border troops were made in the likeness of the shoulder straps of pre-revolutionary Russia. The soldiers guarding the state borders wore double-breasted uniforms at that time. The top leadership of the border troops had the right to wear green stripes.
Over time, Soviet uniforms began to look more and more like European military clothing, for example, it was decided to abandon of blue color trousers, and the suit for the soldiers became monophonic. The privates donned uniform shirts and ties as they were required to wear an open single-breasted suit. The officers were allowed to flaunt in aquamarine ceremonial attire. Subsequently, additional accessories appeared on the uniform: the letters “PV” began to show off on the shoulder straps of the 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 crown.
It should be noted that modern border guard uniforms 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 back in the 20s of the last century, as well as the uniform of the soldiers, has green color. In other words, it was a light green cloth, on which a smaller version of the Navy flag in the canton flaunted in the upper left corner.
The modern flag of the border troops is a four-pointed emerald-colored cross on a scarlet background, in the center of which is the emblem of the FPS of the Russian Federation with silver swords.
I managed to visit the border guards. In one of the border departments (as the outposts are now officially called) of the Border Directorate of the FSB of Russia in the Krasnodar Territory. We shot a video and talked for a couple of hours with a comrade lieutenant colonel, head of the department.
Personal impressions of the outpost are as follows: breathtaking nature, order and cleanliness. Any kind of fuss is much less than in the army, everything around seems to be more relaxed, but only at first glance. When the service requires - who needs it instantly turns out to be right there.
The head of the outpost gave the impression of a man who was not very talkative (clearly, a definite plus for the interview), exceptionally intelligent, experienced, who had seen a lot and was very strong. Even there, in the mountains, I caught myself thinking that I had retained a similar impression after meeting with Anatoly Vyacheslavovich Lebed. I think people serve willingly under such a commander.
There was not much time for talking, but what we were able to talk about, we talked about. Below is the text of the interview. Before reading, I recommend watching a small video filmed in the same place, at the outpost.
The state border through the eyes of a border guard - what is it like?
The border, along its entire length, is different. And for serving border guards, it is interesting, especially in the first 2-3 years of service in a new sector. Usually a year is enough to thoroughly study your section of the border. Then it would be nice to change the geography or even the type of border: land to sea, river, lake. A rotation of personnel is envisaged - such events have a positive effect on vigilance.
During rotation, of course, wishes for translation or some personal characteristics are taken into account. For example, a person does not tolerate a certain type of climate or a significant height above sea level. Before the transfer, during the attestation commission, such things are discussed in detail. Usually the border guard answers briefly - "Yes!" and sent to a new duty station, otherwise the issue will be considered separately and private requests will be taken into account.
Border river. The state border runs along the center of the channel: on the left - Russia, on the right - Abkhazia.
How would you characterize this area where you currently serve?
Our section of the border, for which my department is responsible (as the outposts are now called), is large and complex. The area is very rugged. The mountains.
In the border zone. This is already a territory that is already closed for free visiting by citizens, except for local residents and border guards, it is difficult to meet an outsider there.
The mountains are such that part of the terrain is only accessible on foot or by helicopter. UAZ "Patriot", on which we moved around the neighborhood, could not overcome every climb.
In the distance, similar to sanatorium buildings - buildings at the outpost. Border guards live there with their families. As if "dusty" sections of the photo - a bold hello to everyone from a small cheerful dog, which I treated to cheese at the checkpoint at the entrance to the border zone.
Unnoticed by me, the watchdog, apparently out of gratitude, deftly licked the camera right into the lens.
Border zone, national park - there are no strangers. Nature can be briefly described - "dump of the head." The heat is unbearable, but it was nice and cool by the river, oh!
What is the main task of border guards?
Our main task is to prevent security threats Russian Federation of a very different nature, from economic to terrorist. It's on service. And in life - for nearby settlements, we, of course, are the main lifesaver in emergency cases. We have our own medicine and transport. It happened that they urgently took people out of hard-to-reach villages by helicopter when the roads become completely impassable in winter.
Violators of the state border - have you had to deal with such people?
I had to. Our main violators are the so-called. “Hozbytoviki”, citizens from among the local population, violating the state border for personal, household purposes. What does it mean? The search for a lost cow, for example. Such violators do not use any special tricks, except that they seek to avoid meeting with the outfit serving to protect the border.
Every time we deal with local "household workers" carefully. Criminal liability for them comes in the case when the offender crosses the border on purpose, without documents or with such documents, according to which he is denied entry into Russia. If a person has documents that allow him to legally cross the border through a checkpoint, but, for example, he gets lost and crosses the border, he is subject to less severe, administrative responsibility, most often expressed in a large fine.
Now nature protection functions in the border zone are also assigned to us, so in theory a meeting with poachers is possible. We have specifics: the section of the border is located in a national park, and it is the poachers who are monitored, mainly by the park rangers. If necessary, of course, we provide them with all possible assistance, we act together. Our colleagues have formed their own special units that constantly patrol the mountains, so we have not come across poachers closely for several years.
We have established contact with fellow border guards on the adjacent side, for example, by telephone. In case of receiving information about a violation or preparing for it, we provide assistance to each other.
If we are talking about a deliberate violation of the border - how does this happen? Do the violators still walk under the cover of night on hooves tied to their feet?
Such tricks as crossing the border on boar's hooves have not been heard for a long time, at least due to the fact that the control-track strip has ceased to be the main means of control. Now used much more effective means control - thermal imagers, seismic and radiation sensors, round-the-clock video surveillance, including infrared surveillance. In some places on the land sections of the border, the KSP is still preserved as an additional means of control. The width of such a strip is about 9 meters. Yes, you can walk 9 meters on hooves, but not 5 kilometers (the border zone from the state border to the rear areas goes no more than 5 km) to leave the border zone.
This is also a border. To the left - a little more of our land, the border and the adjacent territory. Wire fence is one of the means of border control. Of the means that we were told about, this site is equipped with hidden video surveillance devices.
And this is our "training violator."
Since we filmed a video at the border guards, we could not refuse the obligatory episode - the detention of the violator.
All information from video cameras is received and analyzed at the outpost in real time. An attempt to violate the border was visible perfectly.
The “intruder” was also equipped with a machine gun at our request.
Outpost! Into the gun!
The border guards quickly get weapons and ammunition in the armory and run out to the formation.
Statement of the problem along.
An alert equestrian detachment arrives at the site where a violation was recorded by means of border control. Another outfit blocks the site on road transport.
The violator is noticed, the border guard warns him about the impending use of the dog.
The dog has gone.
For one of the takes, the service dog Runa was equipped with a video camera. Attached to the collar. This is perhaps the most unusual GoPro mounting platform so far :).
Is it possible to establish something useful on the traces left by the intruder?
An experienced border guard, using the tracks left on the checkpoint or just on the ground, can determine with great (and often with absolute) accuracy the direction of movement - where the intruder went: across the border "there" or headed towards us, inland. Depending on this, the actions of the entire outpost will be different. In the event that the violator has gone to our territory, he will be found and detained at the border or in the border zone by border guards. If our forces are not enough, we will connect the bodies of the FSB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It will just take more time and effort, but the violator will still be found and detained.
The next moment, which is clear from the traces left, is the number of violators. You can’t even go one step after another so as not to leave additional evidence-imprints.
The third thing that is important to find out when studying the traces is whether the offender or a group of offenders had the cargo. The trail of tracks is carefully studied and measured, the result of the analysis is usually a conclusion about the speed of movement. A “loaded” intruder leaves a characteristic mark, so he has the intent to carry his heavy load somewhere, he will not be able to move quickly.
Where do they teach such things?
We continuously prepare people ourselves and improve their qualifications. In general, the border guards have at their disposal a lot of educational institutions, special training centers, including secret ones, where specialists in various fields are trained. Outposts also meet their own talents. We also have such an outstanding person. Finds traces even where they can not be found. It is noteworthy that he works with a dog, and with a very good one, but he often finds the trail faster than the dog. He studied this art, but "superpowers" appeared as a result of the addition of the acquired skills, talent and personal interest. In order to transfer such knowledge to others, we have a so-called “mentoring institute”. We guide new employees and assign them to a mentor, in the case of our outstanding employee, he teaches two young border guards everything he can do.
How do you see the ideal young border guard?
The ideal young specialist in my understanding, as the head of the department, must have several important qualities: to be devoted to his homeland, he must be aware and understand that the border service is difficult, often separated from his family, from constant comfort. It happens that you need to spend a lot of time in a tent in the mountains, where it is wet and cold. He must be physically hardy, mentally developed. Great if a person has technical specialty and applied skills in the use of modern computer technology. But the main thing is the desire to serve. The border is not a factory, you can't "get a job" here. We go to bed, but we don’t forget about the service even in a dream.
Are the concepts of "border guard" and "career" compatible?
In general, such a phenomenon as a "career" is present in the border service. Serve, study, improve your skills - special educational establishments, specialized higher educational institutions, we need technical specialists, we need humanitarians, the same psychologists, for example. An ensign who has risen to the rank of group commander is not the limit. There is room for further growth. And people take advantage of these opportunities.
Who comes to serve in the border agencies? How do you rate your personnel?
I assess the personnel at my outpost as strong. Many came here after serving in the special forces of the Internal Troops, there are people from the special forces of the GRU. By the way, very good guys, they come perfectly prepared. I would like to point out very high level their individual, personal training. Of course, their orientation is more military and special, but in our mountains it is even useful. People come to us from the FSB, it happens, of course, that they leave us there - such a natural “rotation” exists.
"Conscripts" are no longer called to the border. Is there any measurable benefit from this practice?
We switched to a fully contract service, there are no more “conscripts” at the border at all. Of course, this has a positive effect on the quality of service. Previously, when conscripts served in the PV for two years, it turned out that it took six months or more for training and other quarantines, coupled with moving to the duty station, so that a person only had time to study the specifics of the service and his site - and then demobilization. Now we can even competently train a young specialist for several years, then we send him to the outpost and transfer him “under the wing” of an already experienced mentor. When the gap between young and experienced specialists is not a year, but five or ten years, much more practical experience can be transferred to a young employee. And the training of young people has now become objectively better.
There were no cases of early termination of contracts in my department. It happens, of course, that people leave after serving their contract: some for promotion, some for family reasons - the turnover, in general, is small. The main part of the employees concludes the following contract.
Another noticeable difference between a “conscript” and a “contractor” is that the latter comes to us in most cases as a well-trained shooter, and given the past service, this is doubly so. There are people who are simply outstanding in this sense. Well, who does not know how at all or is not given - we will still teach. For several years, even a bear is taught to ride a bicycle, to say nothing of a man and a weapon. But so far there has been no need. Shooting training, by the way, is held in high esteem by us, we do it regularly at the shooting range.
There are no "conscripts" - there is no hazing. This is true?
It is clear that we parted ways with such a phenomenon as hazing. In the army, she did not appear out of thin air, they brought her with them from a civilian. All are young and hot. Everything is different with us. And people are older and more responsible and the term of joint service is longer. And most importantly - there is no need for this phenomenon. Jobs are the same, duties are the same. Well, if you look deep into the centuries - in PV this phenomenon has always been “not very good”, hazing at outposts did not take root, usually the team lived almost like a family. First of all, because of the small number and homogeneity of the team. Plus, everyone goes to the same outfits, eats from the same boiler, and the border guards simply don’t have time for different nonsense.
How do they become border guards?
The border guard becomes a border guard only after studying his site. And the site is being studied on foot. One person came - they lead one to the site. Group - means the whole group is led. On the most difficult route. Here, a beginner will pass the entire area from flank to flank in a day, get acquainted with the area, feel where he is. He is almost a border guard, but not quite yet. By tradition, they become border guards after their first outfit.
Fully automated border - is it possible? I heard that neighboring Finland is very keen on this?
The Finns, as far as I know, have mandatory foot patrols when guarding the border. They have special points for rest and heating, but otherwise everything is very similar - we use skis, snowmobiles or move along the border on foot.
Technical complexes for border protection recent times stepped forward significantly. We can use technology to monitor a variety of complementary parameters. "Wire" or in general contact means of border control are becoming a thing of the past, they are being replaced by much more difficult to overcome means of protection and control. Well, as I said - no one canceled the whole system of outfits. People are equipped with modern technology. The same thermal imagers, for example. Now they are smaller, more compact, lighter and more powerful.
I believe that at any level of automation, one cannot do without a person. Of course, a person can be deceived. And technology is possible. It is already much more difficult to deceive a person and technology together. Moreover, I think it is easier to deceive a technique than a person.
Of course, when preparing to violate the border, the violator explores various possibilities, for example, he can try to bribe the border guard. Such attempts and approaches are carefully monitored, they are necessarily investigated. We are constantly working with the local population of the border zone. Always is daily. Somewhere the work is explanatory, somewhere the locals can give us something to suggest or inform. This is a common but important part of our work. There is no way to replace it with any kind of automation.
Do border guards have leisure time?
With leisure, everything has become easier compared to the old days. 3/4 of subordinates are family people, so family-oriented collective events prevail. We get together in the club, we have tea parties, festive evenings. For children, matinees, in winter, of course, Christmas trees with Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden - in general, ordinary family events. On holidays, we set a festive table for ourselves, bribe together something we want, and sit down at the table together. The table, by the way, without alcohol. At the outpost "dry law". And we are struggling with smoking with effective, not declarative methods. Here, difficult mountain conditions, long walks with cargo and a general “unfashionable” attitude towards smoking come to our aid. Many people quit smoking naturally.
We have our own bus, so we can take people on an excursion or a concert without any problems. Sports and sporting events, of course, do not leave without attention. We support the spirit of competition in the team, this is a normal male desire - to be the first. It's best to run, it's best to shoot back - it's very useful for us.
It happens that a tour comes to us. We unofficially parade over the local school, where the children of our employees also study. We conduct special classes there, “lessons of courage”. Our schoolchildren get acquainted with training weapons, we teach them how to handle horses and dogs. We hope in the near future to grow to the possibility of creating a full-fledged cell of the YuDP (young friends of the border guards). This is a simple and useful institution of true patriotic education of the youth. Children themselves are drawn to this, and we support it. What do today's children know about the border? Never mind. Rarely has anyone heard of Karatsupu. What about the army? Well, someone watched the movie "DMB" or some series. Is there any benefit from such "views"?
You can see for yourself - our own children walk around the territory where the families of our employees live. Children tend to play pranks, but on occasion, anyone can make a remark to them. And they will listen to him. Special supervision, of course, for the “dog lover”, children are very interested in him, sometimes you have to drive them out of the dogs almost by force. Personally, I would like to have a childhood like theirs - at the outpost.
How is food at the border?
The outfits usually take standard RTI rations with them to the mountains, although rarely, however, they take their entire contents. Chocolate bars, of course. In the mountains, most often we limit ourselves to two meals: in the morning a light snack, tea, chocolate. The main meal is left for dinner. It's enough. We take water with us to a minimum, almost everywhere, there are springs on all our routes, these are the features of the area that somewhat facilitate the service. On the spot, in the department, we provide three hot meals a day for all employees in the canteen. All our products, our cooks, we feed the personnel for free.
How are distinguished border guards encouraged?
Of course, we can reward those who excel. And we do it regularly. Verbal gratitude, diploma, valuable gift, prize, state award. A good valuable gift is, for example, a good knife or wrist watch with FSB symbols. Among my subordinates there are those awarded for distinction in service during the Olympics. There are also those awarded for real military merit. For such, for example.
In the morning we came to a clear trail, examined it and realized that a person intentionally and competently confuses his trail, walks in circles. One of the groups of border guards was sent to block the mountain path, where the pursued could, according to our estimates, appear. Along the way, the border guards met another beekeeper. He was very frightened and said that there was a bandit in the border zone, who, under the threat of a weapon, took food and some things from him. Pasechnik accurately indicated the meeting point with the bandit and the approximate direction of his movement.
Here everything was already more or less clear, we put the dog on the trail and moved from the search phase to the pursuit. The difference between me and the bandit was about 50 minutes, so the whole pursuit took about an hour. An hour continuously climbed the mountain, the bandit was gradually exhausted. And, of course, we are tired. The bandit, by the way, did not expect that we would overtake him at all. But we caught up.
In the process of detention, the offender was somewhat taken aback, took out a pistol, which at first glance did not give the impression of a combat one. However, later it turned out that it was a Czech-made pistol, bored out under the PM cartridge. In total, the criminal had two combat pistols and one traumatic pistol with him. In general, the bandit threatened the border guards with a pistol, shouting that he had nothing to lose. The distance to him was 12 meters. It was decided to neutralize the criminal and try to save his life.
In response to armed resistance, the handler of the dog, who was closest to the criminal, used a service dog and opened fire on the legs of the criminal. After a series of shots, the criminal, wounded in the legs, finally calmed down and was disarmed. He was immediately given first aid and carried out on himself for several hours to a place where a car could drive up. Already in the car, the offender finally came to his senses and even thanked him for saving his life. Although, of course, they could not do this in full accordance with the law.
With him, the criminal had the loot, for example, a platinum wristwatch worth 21,000 euros. He was well aware that for his tricks, qualified as robbery and robbery, for weapons and everything else for less than 10 years, he was unlikely to be offered, so he took everything seriously. SOBR arrived, operatives handed over the detainee from hand to hand.
During the investigation, it turned out that the wounded bandit traded in robbery, took out various valuables from rich houses. Since February, officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have already been looking for him, and in July the criminal considered the situation too hot for himself and decided to go abroad in order to sell the loot or sit out the dangerous time. Moreover, until the moment of detention by border guards, the criminal had been hiding in the mountains for a long time, more than once evading police pursuit. The man was perfectly prepared physically, still young, strongly built, with legs very developed for mountain hiking. He was shod in American army mountain boots - in general, he knew a lot about walking in the mountains. The border guard, the dog handler, dealt with such an enemy. For which he was rewarded with a valuable gift.
Another case with the use of weapons: two border guards are sitting in a "secret", two come out to the "secret" from the "other" side. One approached quite close, the other stopped a little further in the river. The senior officer detains the first violator, while the younger one covers him. The nearest of the intruders rushes at the border guard, hand-to-hand combat begins, moving into the water. More people are coming up from the other side, trying to recapture the detainee and shouting “Beat the border guards!” rushing to the leading duel to the senior outfit. The junior border guard in the outfit sends a cartridge into the chamber, warns with a voice, warns with shots in the air, then transfers the fire lower, driving away the “help” and finally reining in the detained intruder, who was already blowing bubbles in the river water. By the way, the same fighter competently used weapons in a similar situation two years earlier.
I want to note that in all cases of the use of military weapons, none of my fighters was confused, did not blunder and did nothing superfluous. I emphasize once again that, according to the law, in all these cases, the border guards had every right to shoot to kill. But they made a humane decision to keep violators alive.
The intruder shoots the dog. The dog is trained and ignores the shots, is not afraid.
Clinging to the hand of the training violator, the dog immobilizes the person.
It always seemed to me that this was some kind of convention. No, not a convention, not only everyone will be able to move with a growling dog, trying to tear your hand away from your body and not crush it a little until it breaks away.
An interesting point: when a dog is trained, a person in ordinary clothes is used as a “target” for it, not in a soft and thick protective dress suit. In order to guarantee not to knock the dog off the pantalik during this detention. The person, of course, under the clothes has the necessary protective equipment. In this case, home-made “armor” was used as additional protection for the hands: a piece of plastic water pipe cut along, laced with a rope. And even through such protection, the pressure of the dog's jaws was monstrous. They unhooked it naturally together, with all their might. You can’t explain to a dog that everything is for fun and for filming.
Can border guards leaving for duty use personal equipment?
It is possible to supplement personal equipment with something that is convenient for you personally to serve in the mountains. Everything necessary for people is issued on a mandatory basis, but if an employee, say, decides that he wants to use his personal burner to heat food, please. It is important for someone that tea boils not in 15 minutes, but in three. Or dorsal drinking system. We don’t have them, but it’s more convenient than a flask. Now there cannot be less than two people in the outfit, and at least 5 in the search group, so that all personal “novelties” will be tested in action by several border guards at once.
Do border guards have superstitions?
Superstition? No, probably not. That's when he served in Chechnya - they were. Once they broke an unwritten law, they said before leaving - let's take a picture for the last time “with legs”. Photographed. Three returned from the exit without legs.
How do you feel about religion?
We have an Orthodox chapel on the territory of the department. We invite the priest to our place, meetings with him have a positive effect on the spirit of the fighters. It would be great even to have military priests. I think it's useful for us. In addition, of course, we conduct educational work with personnel on our own. We make sure that our border guards maintain a good, even psychological condition. We help if people have some problems, for example, family ones. We share general educational knowledge with people, historical, in particular. We support, generally speaking, the moral health of the entire team, and the team is good, understanding and persistent.
Indispensable at the border "transport".
Proper care is organized for the horses, they are full-fledged participants in the border patrolling process, especially in the most difficult areas and in bad weather.
Pay attention to the saddle of the right horse.
A saddle specially designed by the border guards allows you to place a service dog on a horse.
The dog, frankly, jumps into its place with pleasure.
The instructor said that more than once, when the patrol takes place in deep snow, the tired dog itself stopped the horse and jumped on it.
The border troops are very important for the country: they prevent the secret passage of goods and the secret passage of persons across the land and sea borders of the country, protect water resources in our border and territorial waters from plunder.
The history of the Border Guard is part of the heroic and tragic annals of Russia. At a great price, the border guards managed to equip and secure the borders of the country, to ensure the peace and tranquility of its peoples.
It is a historical fact that the protection of the population of the Old Russian state from enemies who made countless raids, invasions and intrusions into the border regions was considered a matter of honor and valor from ancient times, and the border guards were surrounded by special honor and glory.
One of these heroes was Ilya Muromets, who is considered the patron saint of Russian border guards.
In 1412, the creation of the state border guard was first mentioned. Tsar Vasily the First "established his land with outposts." The fortified border lines were a complex complex of cities, forest and mountain barriers, specially created fortresses and fortified points, lines of ditches and ramparts, forest clearings.
Border guards, gaining combat experience, became a formidable force for the enemy. The charter of the guard and stanitsa service from the border guards was required to "show constant vigilance, observe measures of their own safety, and not arbitrarily leave the site without changing to their places."
For unauthorized leaving the site without a shift, the old border guards were threatened with the death penalty. For negligent performance of service and "failure to reach the designated places - beating with a whip." Late arrivals will result in a fine.
On August 5, 1827, Tsar Nicholas I introduces a green uniform for border guards and establishes a single weapon: a lance, two pistols, a saber for horsemen and a gun with 
bayonet, cleaver for foot border guards.
All subsequent changes in the border guards of the empire were aimed at the complete militarization of this special force. The activities of the border guards of the Russian Empire had a combative character.
Today, the total length of the State Border of the Russian Federation is 6 million 103 thousand 129 kilometers by land and water.
The units and divisions of the Border Service are armed with modern weapons, military, aviation, marine, automotive and special equipment.
