First three months in army

Author: Bohdan Butkevych

Well, today marks exactly three months since I joined the army. I am eagerly awaiting blackouts on rushka. After all, the enemy only understands force. The force that was promised to him. So, it’s time to act.

And now I return to the main topic - the first three months in the army.

This is nothing, of course, compared to those who have been here for 3 years or more. There is no need to talk about cyborgs who served until 2022.

But I have already seen, thought about and experienced some things. They strongly coincide with what all the military say. So.

1) Drinking in the army is evil. That's why I gave up drinking alcohol from the first second of my stay there. And I was not mistaken. I've seen how people drink darkly, and it inspires almost otherworldly fear. It's fierce, doomed, when alcohol becomes a real gateway to hell. So I have zero desire.

2) Few things are as demotivating to the personnel as the feeling that you are almost forever attached to your unit and the army in general. Most people, regardless of the quality of their service, stupidly put their lives on hold. After all, they understand that leaving the army in the current reality means either death, injury or disability. With all the consequences for this very life.

To this we add the completely, maliciously and deliberately failed mobilisation, that is, the understanding that there is essentially no one to replace you.

So, yes, clear terms of service and the right to fair transfer are the most urgent problems. They actually destroy people's motivation and desire to be in the army not just as a "junior soldier" on a daily basis.

3) Salary. Yes - the realisation that even a security guard or a supermarket loader gets more than you - is a real pain. And even being in a combat zone does not greatly improve this feeling of being useless to your state, which often comes up. And this is me, who has never really been anywhere in combat. And the people who have never been out of the fightings and still find themselves in the rear sooner or later - how do they deal with it?

4) Of course, the most difficult thing for me personally is that I can't really comment on the internal situation in the country as I used to. Although this is my speciality, my bread. And I am really good at it.

I mean, if I can't, I can. Nobody forbids me to do anything. But I don't think it's possible at the moment for obvious reasons. Because I am a soldier, and because I don't want my fellow soldiers and my unit to have problems because of my words. They don't deserve them at all. Plus, I am used to always being responsible for my words. And I cannot allow innocent people to suffer because of me.

It goes without saying that it's on fire. I see everything and record every step. From the army, everything becomes as crystal clear as it can be.

It goes without saying that I have not only not changed my views and do not retract a single word I have said, but I also want to say the same thing ten times more.

It goes without saying that there are no former journalists. But...

Well, it's really a quest for me, but I guarantee I'll come back with renewed vigour. As soon as the right moment comes. When I decide that it's either time to speak up or it is no longer possible to remain silent, wherever you are and whoever you are. And you can speak in different ways.