Valery Petrishchev: "The most important thing I received from military service is the ability to survive in any situation".
Defender of the Homeland Day became a general men’s holiday long time ago, but historically, February 23 is a day that is particularly important to Russian military service members. There are several retired military men working at UTS. We asked Valery Petrishchev, TP Manager of 330–355 km site on M4 Don highway, to share his experience and tell us about his career.
— You served in the army before joining UTS. Can you tell us, please, how did your military career start?
— I graduated from Krasnoyarsk Higher Air Defence Radio Electronics Command School in 1984. During my service, I had to travel a lot: I visited Khabarovsk, western Ukraine and the south of Russia.
I started out as a Platoon Commander of a radar location station (RLS) in Voronezh region, later I became Deputy Commander for Materiel in Belgorod region, and then I was promoted to Commander of a separate radio unit in Orel region with a further transfer to Moscow region. Later I became Deputy Chief of Staff in Kimry.
After the collapse of the USSR, I served in a training unit in Elets until it was disbanded. I specialized in air force (later military space forces) support and air defence of Moscow. For example, during my service in Voronezh region we monitored all objects in the air up to 500-600 km to the south of the capital, including reconnaissance planes from the north and west, and controlled landing of spacecrafts launched in Kazakhstan. Put simply, we controlled all air traffic south of Moscow.
— Is it true that Internet and Wi-Fi were also developed by the military?
— Yes, indeed, the military made the first elaborations. All modern electronics and equipment came from this sphere.
Nevertheless, when I was just starting, the first electronic computing machines at the station – prototypes of modern computers, were tube and transistor ones, which is obsolete. Later, the technical equipment has seriously changed and improved.
The anti-aircraft missile and radio-radar troops were at the origins of technical progress, since it was them who controlled the air skies over the country 24 hours a day. And the guys who served in the radio-radar forces were specially selected for their technical skills, literacy and acumen.
— Maybe you've seen UFOs too?
— Oh, by the way, we have! One day we detected a suspicious object on the locator screen: it was moving at 200-300 km per second! Unbelievable! It didn't last long, we were able to take some photos, but no one would have time to see it for oneself. It just disappeared. It’s a mystery what it was.
— You said that you often went to service trips. Did you happen to visit any unusual places?
— Yes, I have been to many places, even submitted several requests for foreign trips, including Syria, but due to the internal situation, I didn’t go.
In Russia, the most unusual place for me was in Khabarovsk region – Volochayevka village. Although it is a small village, it has the air of history: in 1922, one of the biggest final battles of the Civil War took place there. The victory of the Reds in the Volochayevka operation, in fact, "opened" access to the Far East.
Besides, the people are certainly different from those who live in central Russia and even in the Far East. They have rural way of life, but not the same as in other parts of the country; they are closer to nature, and much more adapted to life.
I learned a lot from them and these skills helped me later in other regions when there was no supply and we needed to eat something. On full alert mode we also had to do some subsistence farming: raise cattle, find water, plant vegetables... we even knew how to make tea from black currant leaves (laughing). I’ve come full circle!
Probably the most important thing that I caught from military service was the ability to survive under any conditions.
— Did you have any moments when you were really scared?
— It was scary when supplies were interrupted. And this, unfortunately, happened. If not for my experience, it would have been hard to imagine how to provide food for so many military personnel. Of course, the locals always helped us, but this was not always the case.
There have been injuries too, but I am glad that dangerous situations and fatalities kept away from me and my men.
— Why did you choose this path? Are you from a military family?
— No, we never had any military in our family, neither before me nor after. Although my youngest daughter is still liable to military service, as she is a health worker.
Military service helps many people to find their calling in life, to make a good career, and the military were always well supported. As a young man, I joined the army to test myself. I liked it in military school: we were taught discipline, physical endurance and sports. All this helped to build character and maintain health. I was attracted by the fact that in my position I worked a lot with people, I was responsible for at least 20-30 people in my subordination, I learned to be responsible.
— Do all the attained qualities help you in UTS?
— Absolutely! Here, just like in the military service, I have to work with people constantly. Now, I have 106 people under my command. That's a huge responsibility. You have to show leadership qualities, anticipate the moods of your employees, help them get out of conflict situations, and guide them.
Sometimes a conversation is enough, sometimes – a change of focus, and sometimes it is important to understand the underlying reasons, to sort things out and resolve the issue.
There have been cases when cashiers needed to be calmed down because of conflicts with the road users – they are often stressed and crying.
— Have you ever had to go to the toll lanes and solve the problem by yourself?
— Of course, but the good thing is that it happens now very rarely. After we commissioned the site in 2014–2015, we did a tremendous amount of work with drivers: we had to explain the legality of our actions, tell them how the company is organised and where the money goes to. Sometimes you just had to have a decent conversation. This was very common then, but now the drivers are well-informed, they already know a lot about the highway arrangement and our work, and they know that aggression towards a woman-cashier is not something to be proud of.
— What do you like to do at your spare time?
— When I have time, I like to fish and pick up mushrooms. I live near the river, so I don't even have to drive anywhere. Although, of course, fishing differs depending on place and it's always fun to try something new.
— What are your congratulations on the holiday?
— For me and my fellow service members, February 23 is a dearly beloved holiday. We always get together and remember former colleagues with whom we started studying and serving. This is a tradition for us.
That is why I would like to wish health, patience, love and great happiness to all men and women as well. As it is so important for defenders to have their happy and honest female partners around, who go through all the trials together with them. I wish everyone prosperity, warmth and mutual understanding in our difficult times!