"Serving in the army is an honorable duty of every Soviet citizen." This slogan, so popular some thirty years ago, is now increasingly losing its relevance. And it's not even about the fact that Soviet power is no more. The fact is that an increasing number of young people are trying to avoid the draft. It is considered right to “slope” from the army, and for some reason, many who “slope” call those who go to serve as losers.
Although how can you call a loser, for example, a paratrooper conquering the sky, or a naval officer plowing the oceans? Unlikely. But there is a special category of the military, which no, no, and even those who have done everything possible to evade service will envy. Brand-new clothes, excellent bearing, excellent physical shape, a very special atmosphere. The honor guard company has a special majestic beauty. Service there is an indicator of selectivity, one might say, perfection. Only the best get there.
A bit of history
Events in which guardsmen of the guard of honor took part were common even under Peter the Great. If we talk about the time close to us, the Guard of Honor as such appeared in 1944 as an integral part of the Special Purpose Division named after. Dzerzhinsky NKVD USSR. And his first significant task was to meet Winston Churchill.
In 1956, the first separate company of the guard of honor was formed and placed under the command of the Moscow military commandant's office. In 1979, the 154th Separate Commandant Regiment was created, now better known as the Preobrazhensky Regiment, of which a company of soldiers belonging to the military elite became an integral part.
In 1960, for military units of this class across the country, a special dress uniform for the Navy was created: three types - for the Navy, ground and air forces. By that time, its own guard of honor company was not only in the garrison of Moscow, but also in Volgograd, Kyiv, Minsk, Odessa, Leningrad, Tbilisi, Sverdlovsk, Rostov-on-Don, Tashkent, Lvov, Kuibyshev and in a number of other cities of the Soviet Union. It is worth noting that an orchestra was certainly allocated for this military unit.
Who will get into the elite military unit?
For whom can a guard of honor company become a place of service? For guys with excellent he alth, strong, hardy, not only physically, but also psychologically. Because it is very difficult to withstand many hours of daily training. But sometimes, in order toto prepare this or that number, to achieve perfect synchronization of movements, it takes whole weeks and even, possibly, months. But if an unscheduled event is planned, then the pace accelerates, and the training becomes much more intense.
The honor guard company takes part in meetings of foreign delegations, in events for the opening of monuments and memorials, laying wreaths at the graves of soldiers and many others. At the same time, in any situation, the soldiers must look perfect, without a single blot, in the heat and freezing cold. Even if the same foreign delegation is late and has to wait. The elite of the Russian troops must stand at attention.
Where can I see company soldiers?
The number of events in which the military has to participate over the years of service is in the hundreds. And sometimes how the soldiers show themselves depends on how the country looks in the eyes of foreign states. For example, a guard of honor company in Moscow in 1980 took part in the opening of the Olympic Games. The soldiers carried the Olympic flag. In addition, a separate company of the 154th regiment in 1981 met representatives of the powers participating in the Warsaw Pact; in 1985 she participated in the World Festival of Youth and Students. In 1987, she took part in the celebration of the 175th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino and in the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR.
165th separate rifle company of the PK
The guard of honor company is associated with the Preobrazhensky Regiment. Many young people who go to serve dream of getting there. Of course, this military unit is almost unique, but it is still far from the only one of its kind. For example, residents of the northern capital have great respect for the 165th OSR PC. Its history is a little shorter than the history of the company of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. A freelance guard of honor company was formed in 1961. Saint Petersburg was then called Leningrad. But even now it is the only military unit in the entire region that provides meetings and farewells for military and state delegations, and takes part in official events. And not only in the Leningrad region, but throughout the North-West region. And taking into account that St. Petersburg is the second most important city in our country, it is quite natural that the number of such events is only increasing every year. So, the Separate Rifle Company of the PC met the first persons of such countries as Great Britain, the Netherlands, the USA, Italy, Belarus, Greece, Uzbekistan, Denmark, Germany, Norway. Naturally, such events as the celebration of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg, the Day of Military Glory were not without her participation. More than once the company changed its place of deployment. Now it is based in the Cadet Rocket and Artillery Corps (formerly the Leningrad Artillery School) and is located at the address: Moskovsky pr., 17.
Interesting facts
During the opening of the 1980 Olympic Games, foreign guests did not even realize that the soldiers of the honor guard company were carrying the Olympic flag. They were in sportswear.
Beenthe moment when twins were recruited from all over the country in the 154th OKP, and 8 pairs of twins served in it at a time.
Once, the Chinese Defense Minister, during an official visit, violated protocol by shaking hands with the commander of the guard of honor. To such an extent, he liked the performance of the company.
The main guard post in the Russian Federation is a post at the tomb of the unknown soldier in the Alexander Garden. It was formed to guard the Lenin Mausoleum in 1924. And in 1974, the first sentries and their successors stood guard at the same time.
Servants of the company "print a step", which was introduced by Paul the First, who borrowed it from the Prussian military.
Conclusion
And in conclusion, I would like to say, probably, a banal thing. Service in the army makes men out of boys, changes their worldview and perception of reality. Any mother or girl whose son or fiancé serves with dignity, if the landing force, the Navy, the border troops or the guard of honor are proud of him, his photo will be proudly shown to everyone he knows. After all, it is these boys, young men, men who are the face of a great power.
