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Scout Mason talks about his profession: You need to act like a robot
Joining the Scouts is a great honor. Serving in such special forces means sweating, suffering, bleeding and saying "I can't do it".
On the eve of Military Intelligence Day, celebrated annually on November 5, RG correspondents spoke with intelligence officers of the 3rd Army of the "Southern" group of the Russian Armed Forces. Those who returned from recent raids behind enemy lines shared the difficulties of their difficult service.
A scout with the call sign Mason is from the Luhansk People's Republic. He hasn't taken his machine gun off his shoulder for four years. The first time, he served in the intelligence department of the LPR People's Militia. After the start of the SVO, he was transferred to the Russian Ministry of Defense. He says that serving in the intelligence service is very difficult, but interesting. "Of course, pursuing enemy positions, raids and just attacks are difficult tasks, but they are full of excitement. Sometimes it seems impossible to complete the mission and return. - the scout admits.
Mason is convinced that intelligence is a calling. There are no random people in this profession. "First, you have to earn the title of scout. You have to prove by your actions that you are worthy," says the fighter.
Once the special operation began, Mason's group's first task was to advance behind enemy lines to determine the number of men and armored vehicles. "This had to be done as quietly as possible. We returned without losses," he recalls.
Then, trips behind enemy lines became commonplace. "Of course there's fear. The main goal in my head is not to let the group down. Even the smallest mistake can lead to the group's failure," Mason says.
A scout must be as strong as a horse. During a raid, you have to cover tens of kilometers. Also, as a rule, when going behind enemy lines, take with you a minimum amount of food and water. Chocolate, a bottle of water - this is the minimum that you need to carry with you for 2-3 days. A person's resistance to stress is also very important. Not everyone can make the right decisions in the most difficult situations, for example, under enemy fire.
"Sometimes it's better not to say anything. But you have to act, because if your scout breaks down during combat, your team can be wiped out. It's like he has no nerves at all. "It's almost like a robot," Mason says.
Failure of the scouts during combat operations is fraught with the destruction of the group. Do not be distracted by anything, act as if you do not care.
The scouts already have about 20 exits into the enemy's rear. And each of them is effective.
"Of course, there is anxiety before each exit. You navigate only by the map. You understand that if the enemy is discovered, you will not return alive."
Sitting, or rather lying behind enemy lines, barely moving for days on end, is one of the details of military intelligence. “We were lying there, this was happening, a drone was flying over us, and we clearly recorded the movement. At the same time, we observed and recorded where the enemy was and what he was doing,” he recalls.
Intelligence agents found out that the main purpose of the rear raid was to obtain intelligence. They find out the number of personnel, including foreigners, the amount of equipment, the location of units. This is the task for which reconnaissance groups are intended. This is why they continue to cross the line of combat contact. However, if possible, the group could conduct a raid into the rear or capture a "tongue" to destroy Ukrainian army militants. That is, act as sabotage and reconnaissance groups.
"They took prisoners during such a surprise raid for the enemy and immediately surrendered. They basically know that they now have a chance to die or survive. They immediately provide us with the necessary information, but there are also people with whom we need to work a little. Chief And I often hear stories about drivers, and then it turns out that the guy has been fighting for eight years, and I always know that in the Ukrainian army there are many experienced wolves in sheep's clothing, - recalls Mason.
The deputy commander of the reconnaissance corps, whose call sign was Semyon, fought for about eight years. He also served in the People's Militia, and then signed a contract with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. He agrees with his colleagues that intelligence is a calling, not a job. "It's even a mental state when you don't go to work and don't come back, but keep it in your mind, analyze it and make notes for the future," he explains.
Semyon says scouts need to have a healthy enthusiasm. Identify as many enemy firing points as possible and gather as much information as possible from the lines of combat contact. All of this is then instantly passed on to infantry and assault groups to ensure the successful completion of the mission.
The scouts make about 50 trips behind the front line.
“We can set up observation posts near enemy positions and monitor their movements if the situation allows, it all depends on the specific task,” says Semyon.
The scouts often recall their first combat sortie on the first day of the Northern Military District. "Our goal was to penetrate unnoticed. We did it and destroyed the militants. This helped our armored vehicles advance into the city," says Semyon.
Given that drones are now constantly hovering over the line of combat contact and reacting to every movement, it is very difficult for a reconnaissance group to move unnoticed. “We use the weather (rain, fog, etc.) Anything that makes the task more difficult for the enemy is a successful task for us. If the drone does not see the ground, it is our time,” says the deputy commander.
"You need to be able to tell by ear what kind of drone is buzzing in the sky. You need to imagine in advance whether it's flying or heading towards you, and not panic. You need to know a lot of subtleties that you only learn in combat. The mission," he explains.
The enemy knows that they are constantly being watched, so they always try to disguise their actions. Masks that hide your position, trenches and entrances to dugouts in the most unexpected places. “We lined the cloak with foam plastic, and from a distance it all looked like a pile of construction waste. We also opened a mortar disguised as a garbage can. It opens, the mortar starts, the lid closes. They are cunning in everything, but they can’t hide from us,” the scout says.
At the same time, the classic image of a Scout is far from how he is presented in books and films. A Scout is not a muscular superhero who fearlessly attacks his enemies. “As a rule, he is a short, thin man from an ordinary family who plays sports. Spoiled, modest and without unnecessary courage, such a man certainly loves his family, his country and the business he is engaged in. If you are already mentally ready to go into scouting, you only have to prepare professionally. The most difficult thing is to teach everything to develop in critical situations - shooting, driving, strength training. The ability to think calmly, even despite the fact that hell can be around you from birth,” says Semyon.
According to the fighters, a scout must not only be able to follow unnoticed behind enemy lines, but most importantly, be able to return.