FSB commando. Strong-willed. Department of Military Counterintelligence of the FSB of Russia
Developed in the late 1990s on the basis of a biathlon rifle for arming OMON and FSB special forces. With low ballistic characteristics for a sniper weapon, it has a very high firing accuracy and a quiet sound of a shot.
Reloading is done manually. Detachable magazine holds 10 rounds.
The stock is symmetrical in shape (equally convenient for shooting from the left and right hand), consists of two parts. The buttstock is detachable, of skeletal construction, equipped with a recoil pad and a cheek piece. In the lower part of the butt, under the hinged cover, there is room for two spare magazines. Instead of a butt, a pistol grip can be installed. The forearm has a groove for attaching a height-adjustable bipod.
On rifles of the first years of production, the stock and stock were made of lacquered wood, however, in 2007, the SV-99 received a stock and stock made of durable aviation plywood in a dark green color of the SV-98 type, and in 2009, an improved version of the stock and stock from black plastic.
There are no open sights, but the rifle has a dovetail mount for mounting an optical sight.
What special tasks are performed by special forces units with the help of such a weak and short-range (what a word!), Almost toy weapon?
1. Covert destruction of enemy manpower not protected by personal protective equipment. The .22 LR cartridge used gives a very quiet and accurate shot at short distances. “The accuracy of a shot with such a cartridge at 20-30 meters is simply amazing, and the weak recoil allows you to make two or three very accurate shots in a row. When combined with a silencer, the sound of a shot is no longer heard even from two steps with the usual noise background on a city street, and a properly selected ammunition can inflict a rather serious injury to a criminal. By the way, a shot from this weapon at a distance of up to 100 m affects not only people, but also service dogs.
2. Covert destruction of enemy technical means. True, not any technical means, but only those that are affected by such a weak cartridge as the .22 LR. Lighting equipment, video cameras, signaling units, electrical distribution boxes, radio communications equipment, car wheels ... That is, in other words, a small-caliber sniper rifle with a silencer is an almost ideal means of preparing a bridgehead for assaulting those objects that are technically possible to approach at a direct shot range from a small-caliber rifle (50-70 m.)
I must say that when ordering the development of such a peculiar weapon as a "sniper small thing", the Russian military were not pioneers in this area. American special forces have been using small-caliber .22 LR weapons ever since such weapons were born, from the end of the 19th century. And, apparently, they are not going to refuse it yet.
The FSB Special Purpose Center was established in 1998 to combat terrorism in Russia and abroad. Its structural units are the Alpha special unit, the Vympel special unit and the Special Operations Directorate.
The center accepts officers and ensigns, as well as cadets of military schools as candidates for officer positions. 97% of the positions in the FSB special forces are officers. Ensigns are given 3%, in case of admission to the CSN, they serve as drivers or instructors.
In addition, each candidate must provide a recommendation of either a current or former employee of Alfa or Vympel. The CSN is also engaged in an independent search for the most promising young people. Why do employees of the center visit the universities of the Ministry of Defense in order to study the personal files of cadets and conduct interviews with the most suitable of them for service in the FSB special forces. The most “productive” in this regard are the Novosibirsk Higher Combined Arms School, where there is a special forces department, and the Moscow Higher Military Command School.
At the same time, there is an age limit - no older than 28 years. And also the height must be at least 175 cm so that the body armor does not hit the knees. However, these requirements are not dogma. If the candidate has any unique abilities or has combat experience, then they turn a blind eye to them.
A healthy mind in a healthy body
Having accepted from the candidates the documents necessary for admission, they begin to check their physical fitness. Testing is carried out within one day. Everything is done in dynamics with minimal breaks between exercises. The requirements for applicants for service in Alpha are a little stricter than for candidates for Vympel. Below are the standards for Alpha.
3 kilometers at the stadium must be run within 10 minutes 30 seconds.
After a 5-minute rest - 100 meters, the control standard - 12.7 seconds.
Pull-ups on the crossbar - 25 times. This is followed by a 3-minute rest after each exercise.
Within 2 minutes, it is necessary to do 90 flexions and extensions of the torso in the prone position.
90 push-ups from the floor.
After that, the candidate needs to perform a complex strength exercise 7 times:
15 push-ups from the floor;
15 flexion and extension of the torso in the prone position;
15 transitions from the “crouching emphasis” to “lying emphasis” and vice versa;
15 jumps from the "crouching" position.
40 seconds are given for each cycle. Rest between cycles is not provided.
Bench press of a barbell of its own weight (but not more than 100 kg) lying down - 10 times.
The main thing is to keep the beat and go forward
Three minutes after physical testing, it is necessary to demonstrate hand-to-hand martial arts skills. At the same time, the candidate speaks in a helmet, gloves and protective pads on the legs and in the groin. He is opposed by an instructor or an employee of the TsSN who is well trained in the field of hand-to-hand combat. The fight continues for 3 rounds.
In the allotted time, it is not at all required to defeat the instructor. During the fight, the instructor assesses the potential capabilities of the candidate: fighting qualities, ability to take a hit, the will to win, focus on attacking in conditions of physical fatigue, the ability to change combat tactics depending on the circumstances, reaction speed.
Of course, the instructor does not seek to “beat” the subject. During the fight, he gives him the initiative to better understand what he is worth. The more active the candidate is in the ring, the higher the score he receives even in the case of significant errors in technique. Subsequently, during training, the recruit will learn all the techniques and skills necessary for effective hand-to-hand combat. Therefore, the main task of the instructor is to find out whether the candidate is capable of learning.
Those who are passive in combat are immediately culled, going on the defensive.
Major tests ahead
At the next stage, the candidate is placed at the disposal of doctors in order to undergo in-depth studies of his state of health. And here the requirements are higher than for cadets of military universities, since the future special forces officer must endure enormous physical exertion. And they should not interfere with the effective implementation of combat missions. At the same time, one of the primary tasks that the medical board solves is to determine the suitability for airborne training.
In parallel with these studies, a special check is carried out, during which the presence of undesirable connections in the candidate is revealed. And not only with him, but also with his closest relatives. Relatives are checked for criminal records.
The next stage of the competitive marathon is an examination by a psychologist. It is necessary to study the candidate's personality - character, temperament, interests and predilections, moral attitudes, reactions to certain stimuli and other characteristics that are important for service in the FSB special forces. All this information is entered into a personal file.
This is followed by verification on the polygraph of the veracity of the candidate. First of all, the moments that he would like to hide, the “dark spots” of his past and present are revealed: connections with crime, addiction to alcohol and drugs, corruption tendencies, antisocial lifestyle.
In connection with requests regarding the opportunity to serve in Alfa, Vympel, and regional anti-terror units, we are posting this information, which will allow us to remove initial typical questions and realistically assess our physical and psychological capabilities.
Primary selection
The selection system for anti-terror special forces is carried out in several stages. For service in the special forces of the Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia, as a rule, officers and ensigns, as well as cadets of military schools, are selected as candidates for officer positions.
97% of positions in special forces are officer positions, and only 3% are ensign positions. Accordingly, an officer must have a higher education, an ensign - not lower than secondary. Ensigns are usually appointed to the positions of drivers and instructors.
Firstly, a candidate for special forces must be recommended either by an active employee of the TsSN, or by a veteran who previously served in Alfa, Vympel, or Directorate C. The selection is also carried out from cadets of universities of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation or from border institutes of the FSB.
Preference is given to those who are already studying at the Faculty of Special Forces, which is in the Novosibirsk Higher Combined Arms Command School. The selection of children from the Moscow VOKU is also being made. Employees of the Center regularly come to all these educational institutions and carry out the initial selection. First, the personal files of cadets are studied, and then potential candidates are interviewed.
For candidates, there is one serious limitation on physical data - height must be at least 175 cm. This is due to the fact that in operations, employees often use heavy armored shields of impressive size. For undersized employees, these protective equipment is dragged along the ground.
An exception may be made for a candidate whose professional merit outweighs the lack of growth and can be used during a special operation when penetrating the hatches of an aircraft (as an example).
Another limitation is age. Applicant must be no older than 28 years old. True, for those who come to the CSN from other power structures and have combat experience, an exception may be made.
Physical testing
Physical testing is divided into two stages, which take place on the same day. During the first, candidates pass physical fitness standards, followed by hand-to-hand combat sparring.
The candidate arrives at the “object”, changes into a sports uniform for the season. He must run a distance of three kilometers in 10 minutes 30 seconds. After the finish, he is given 5 minutes to rest, and then his sprinting qualities are tested in overcoming the hundred meters for a while. The credit result is about 12 seconds.
Then, with a light run, you need to climb to the gym, where the candidate is waiting for the crossbar. A candidate for Department "A" must pull himself up 25 times, for Department "B" - 20. Here and below, after each exercise, 3 minutes of rest are given between exercises.
Next, you need to complete 90 flexions and extensions of the torso in two minutes. This is followed by push-ups from the floor. The offset for Control "A" is 90 times, for Control "B" - 75. Sometimes push-ups from the floor can be replaced with push-ups on the uneven bars. In this case, the required amount is 30 times.
The execution time is not strictly limited, but the candidate is not allowed to rest during the execution. They are also quite strict about how the exercise is performed. If the candidate, in the opinion of the receiving employee, does not clearly perform this or that exercise, it is not counted to him.
After that, the candidate is invited to perform a complex strength exercise. For "A" and "B" - 7 and 5 times, respectively. The complex exercise includes 15 push-ups from the floor, 15 flexions and extensions of the torso (checking the abdominals), then 15 times the transition from the “crouching emphasis” position to the “lying emphasis” and back, then 15 jumps from the “crouching” position up.
Each exercise is given 10 seconds. The described cycle is a single execution of a complex exercise. There is no rest break between each exercise. Sometimes in Office "A" it is proposed to perform an endurance test - jump up 100 times.
hand-to-hand combat
Having completed physical testing, the candidate rests for 3 minutes, after which, putting on protection on his legs, on his groin, a helmet on his head, gloves on his hands, he enters the wrestling mat. The candidate's rival is an instructor or a well-trained employee. At the same time, the weight category of the candidate is not taken into account, and an employee weighing under 100 kg can go against him, weighing, for example, 75 kilograms. The fight consists of three rounds.
In the ring, the candidate is required to be active, passive defense is not welcome. It is very difficult to do this, given the loads that the candidate has overcome during the physical tests. Against him comes a completely fresh employee. Here, first of all, fighting qualities, the ability to attack, the ability to take a hit and, of course, the will are tested. There were cases when the masters of sports did not stand in the ring, and the guys who did not have any serious sports titles, on the contrary, stubbornly attacked and rushed at the enemy.
To some extent, the hand-to-hand combat phase resembles the similar phase of testing candidates during the maroon beret examination. True, I must say that in the CSN they approach the test in a more balanced way, without trying to score a candidate. The instructor often lets the candidate work on his own, take the initiative to understand what he can do. Although there were cases when during sparring they broke their arms and noses. Sometimes, to test the ability to beat with hands and feet, the candidate is allowed to work on the bag.
This completes this testing phase. Preference is given to candidates with sporting merit in martial arts, as well as in boxing and wrestling. Although accept and runners.
If a candidate for a special unit comes from other units of the Special Purpose Center, he may be subject to additional requirements. Shooting skills should be checked or the ability to swim (100 meters for a while and 25 meters underwater without any equipment).
Special check
This is followed by the so-called special check, during which even all relatives are thoroughly checked. While this process is going on, the candidate undergoes an initial examination by a psychologist, who, with the help of tests, studies the personality of the subject, his character, temperament, moral attitudes, etc. During the interview, the psychologist also tries to identify the characteristics of the candidate’s personality, clarifies some unclear points for himself. It happens that candidates do not say something or lie.
Based on the results of the initial selection, the psychologist compiles the psychological characteristics of the candidate. She is filed in the case of a special inspection. This document is necessary for the future chief to understand what kind of person came to serve in the unit.
Then the candidate undergoes an in-depth medical examination, during which his suitability for airborne training is revealed. Here he is also waiting for a mandatory polygraph test.
The polygraph (aka “lie detector”) is designed primarily to identify “dark spots of biography”, such as addiction to alcohol and drugs, connections with the underworld, corrupt motives, antisocial inclinations and other aspects.
Based on the results of the survey, a certificate is drawn up. The assessment of the candidate is compiled in points, which gives a visible picture of how successfully he passed the tests. For example, the total number of possible points in physical fitness is 900. The minimum number of points from which a candidate is considered for admission to the CSN is 700. The average passing score is 800.
Family conversation
After the candidate is recognized as having successfully passed the selection tests and his verification, an interview with his parents and his wife is mandatory. During the conversation, they are explained the nature and characteristics of service in special forces.
The result of this interview should be the written consent of the parents and wife with the admission of the candidate to serve in the special unit. This procedure is primarily due to the fact that special forces perform tasks with an increased risk to life.
If the candidate has successfully passed all the stages and the relatives are not against his service in the CSN, he is enlisted in the special forces as a young employee. Those undergo an initiation ritual with the presentation of black berets and special knives "Antiterror", which are officially adopted by the special forces. They are also presented with gifts from the International Association of Veterans of the Alpha anti-terror unit (watches).
If the selected candidate does not perform well, he may be expelled from the special forces.
Further preparation
In September-October, the Center conducts a training course for young employees, during which they are engaged in mountain and airborne training and other special disciplines. By the way, absolutely all employees of combat departments jump with a parachute.
Upon completion of this stage, young employees return to their units again, where they undergo training as part of the units for three years. Already there is a division into full-time and non-staff positions.
Specialization training is a separate program that requires a long time and perseverance of an employee in order to become a true professional in his field. At the end of each year, the professional qualities and physical fitness of all employees of the Center are checked.
If young employees are taken on combat missions, then only to perform some supporting functions. Only those who have served in the unit for at least two years, or employees who previously had combat experience, take part in special operations.
There is an unspoken rule at the Center that after enrolling in special forces, an employee is required to serve in it for at least five years. This is exactly the period that is necessary for the preparation of a classy "action movie" of anti-terror. The vast majority continue to serve further.
The FSB Special Purpose Center was established in 1998 to combat terrorism in Russia and abroad. Its structural units are the Alpha special unit, the Vympel special unit and the Special Operations Directorate.
The center accepts officers and ensigns, as well as cadets of military schools as candidates for officer positions. 97% of the positions in the FSB special forces are officers. Ensigns are given 3%, in case of admission to the CSN, they serve as drivers or instructors.
In addition, each candidate must provide a recommendation of either a current or former employee of Alfa or Vympel. The CSN is also engaged in an independent search for the most promising young people. Why do employees of the center visit the universities of the Ministry of Defense in order to study the personal files of cadets and conduct interviews with the most suitable of them for service in the FSB special forces. The most “productive” in this regard are the Novosibirsk Higher Combined Arms School, where there is a special forces department, and the Moscow Higher Military Command School.
At the same time, there is an age limit - no older than 28 years. And also the height must be at least 175 cm so that the body armor does not hit the knees. However, these requirements are not dogma. If the candidate has any unique abilities or has combat experience, then they turn a blind eye to them.
A healthy mind in a healthy body
Having accepted from the candidates the documents necessary for admission, they begin to check their physical fitness. Testing is carried out within one day. Everything is done in dynamics with minimal breaks between exercises. The requirements for applicants for service in Alpha are a little stricter than for candidates for Vympel. Below are the standards for Alpha.
3 kilometers at the stadium must be run within 10 minutes 30 seconds.
After a 5-minute rest - 100 meters, the control standard - 12.7 seconds.
Pull-ups on the crossbar - 25 times. This is followed by a 3-minute rest after each exercise.
Within 2 minutes, it is necessary to do 90 flexions and extensions of the torso in the prone position.
90 push-ups from the floor.
After that, the candidate needs to perform a complex strength exercise 7 times:
- 15 push-ups from the floor;
- 15 flexion and extension of the torso in the prone position;
- 15 transitions from the position "squatting" to "lying" and vice versa;
- 15 jumps from the "crouching" position.
40 seconds are given for each cycle. Rest between cycles is not provided.
Bench press of a barbell of its own weight (but not more than 100 kg) lying down - 10 times.
The main thing is to take a hit and move forward
Three minutes after physical testing, it is necessary to demonstrate hand-to-hand martial arts skills. At the same time, the candidate speaks in a helmet, gloves and protective pads on the legs and in the groin. He is opposed by an instructor or an employee of the TsSN who is well trained in the field of hand-to-hand combat. The fight continues for 3 rounds.
In the allotted time, it is not at all required to defeat the instructor. During the fight, the instructor assesses the potential capabilities of the candidate: fighting qualities, ability to take a hit, the will to win, focus on attacking in conditions of physical fatigue, the ability to change combat tactics depending on the circumstances, reaction speed. Of course, the instructor does not seek to “beat” the subject. During the fight, he gives him the initiative to better understand what he is worth. The more active the candidate is in the ring, the higher the score he receives even in the case of significant errors in technique. Subsequently, during training, the recruit will learn all the techniques and skills necessary for effective hand-to-hand combat. Therefore, the main task of the instructor is to find out whether the candidate is capable of learning.
Those who are passive in combat are immediately culled, going on the defensive.
Major tests ahead
At the next stage, the candidate is placed at the disposal of doctors in order to undergo in-depth studies of his state of health. And here the requirements are higher than for cadets of military universities, since the future special forces officer must endure enormous physical exertion. And they should not interfere with the effective implementation of combat missions. At the same time, one of the primary tasks that the medical board solves is to determine the suitability for airborne training.
In parallel with these studies, a special check is carried out, during which the presence of undesirable connections in the candidate is revealed. And not only with him, but also with his closest relatives. Relatives are checked for criminal records.
The next stage of the competitive marathon is an examination by a psychologist. It is necessary to study the candidate's personality - character, temperament, interests and predilections, moral attitudes, reactions to certain stimuli and other characteristics that are important for service in the FSB special forces. All this information is entered into a personal file.
This is followed by verification on the polygraph of the veracity of the candidate. First of all, the moments that he would like to hide, the “dark spots” of his past and present are revealed: connections with crime, addiction to alcohol and drugs, corruption tendencies, antisocial lifestyle.
On passing each test, candidates are awarded points. Then they are summed up, and those with the best performance are accepted for service in the TsSN FSB.
But the acceptance process does not end there. The end point is set after a conversation with the parents and wife of the newly minted commando. They are told about the peculiarities of service in special forces, and then they take written consent from them with the admission of their son / husband to the Alpha or Vympel group. This is due to the fact that the service of a commando is associated with an increased risk to life.
And only after that there is an enrollment as a young employee with the presentation of a black beret and an Anti-terror knife. However, the fighter has three more years to master his chosen profession under the guidance of experienced colleagues, acquiring the necessary knowledge and mastering the necessary skills. During the first two years he is not involved in special operations.