November 16 marks the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Ordzhonikidze Higher Combined Arms Command Twice Red Banner School named after Marshal of the Soviet Union A.I. Eremenko. On the eve of the anniversary, our correspondent met with one of the former heads of this university, which was highly rated in the Soviet Army, Hero of the Soviet Union, retired Lieutenant General Vitaly ULYANOV.
First, a few words about Ulyanov itself, whose fate is tightly connected with the army, as they say, from a young age. At the age of 17, he volunteered to go to the front, and at 18 he already became a holder of the Golden Star. Here are the lines from the presentation of the platoon commander of 45-mm cannons of the 1st Guards Rifle Battalion of the 280th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 92nd Guards Rifle Division of the Guard, Sergeant Vitaly Andreevich Ulyanov, for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union:
“Comrade Ulyanov showed heroism and courage in the battles to clear the left bank of the Dnieper River from German invaders, crossing the right bank and moving forward. Having crossed with the first gun to the right bank, he suppressed several enemy firing points with direct fire and ensured the successful crossing of the river by his battalion. In the battles for the village of Zeleny and the village of Kukovka, repelling counterattacks of enemy tanks and infantry, being left alone with two guns, he fired direct fire and knocked out two tanks, seven armored vehicles, captured one cannon and destroyed it before the infantry platoon, thereby ensuring the success of the regiment’s combat operations to expand the bridgehead on the right bank of the Dnieper River. For skillful management of the platoon and demonstrated personal heroism, he deserves to be awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Commander of the 280th Guards. joint guard lieutenant colonel PLUTAKHIN."
As evidenced by the entries in the column “Conclusion of superior officers” on the reverse side of the award sheet, this submission, dated October 20, 1943, was approved by the commander of the guard division, Colonel Petrushin, the very next day. On October 25, the commander of the 37th Army, Lieutenant General Sharokhin, and a member of the military council, Colonel Bagnyuk, will give their go-ahead.
And before that, on October 22, Guard Sergeant Ulyanov will take part in a battle that will end with him being seriously wounded and will essentially be the last in his short front-line biography. Then there will be months of wandering around hospitals, where all the fragments taken in that battle will never be removed from him. Already with the rank of Hero of the Soviet Union, which he was awarded on February 22, 1944, he graduated from the Kiev School of Self-Propelled Artillery and was left there to command a platoon. Then there will be long years of military service, with only breaks for studying at advanced courses and academies. Having replaced many garrisons, without jumping over a single command rank, having spent six years in a company and six and a half in a division, he will become a general. For eleven years, until his resignation in 1985, he will head the Ordzhonikidze VOKU. The longest tenured of the 22 heads of this university.
In total, Vitaly Andreevich walked through life in military service for more than forty years. Things happened along the way. But no matter where his military fate took him and no matter what heights his military fate took him, that front-line sergeant school was always with him. Having learned the army from the inside as a young man, he then, not without reason, considered himself entitled to act based on personal experience, including front-line experience, even if it sometimes did not fit into some canons or the authorities did not like it.
Actually, our conversation began with memories of this.
- Vitaly Andreevich, they say that even when you were the head of the Higher Educational Institution, you sometimes acted at your own peril and risk, introducing some innovations into the educational process?
- Well, there wasn't much risk there. Although I had to deal with some bewilderment at higher authorities. For example, when we decided, having postponed the general education training required for freshmen to the end of the year, to quickly give them military disciplines, so that from the first days of their stay at the school they would begin to understand what service is, how necessary the knowledge that they have to master is. This was perceived almost as arbitrariness.
Or take the supposedly excessive passion for mountain training of cadets, which some short-sighted education officials also accused us of at one time. Can you imagine, there is a war going on in Afghanistan, and we, being in the foothills of the Caucasus, should not be involved in mountain training, because, you see, this is not our profile! But we were busy. After only 4-5 months of training, the cadets climbed Table Mountain, even went to Kazbek, and conducted exercises in the mountains. Yes, it wasn't easy. But then, when the leadership of the Armed Forces finally decided to make the Ordzhonikidze Higher Educational Institution the base for recruiting the Turkestan Military District, returning from Afghanistan, many graduates specially came to the school to say thank you for the science. By the way, they don’t forget about their native OrdzhVOKU even now. They visit and write. The letters, as a rule, again contain words of gratitude. 
- Surely many warm words will be said during the celebration of the anniversary of the school, many of whose graduates, as you know, became major military leaders and achieved significant success in other areas of activity.
- As the chairman of the organizing committee for the preparation and holding of anniversary events, I can report that they will be held in both Vladikavkaz and Moscow, where there are also many of our graduates now. Moreover, the anniversary will be celebrated not only in Russia, but also in neighboring countries, where our students and graduates serve with dignity in various positions in the armed forces, in other law enforcement agencies, or are simply in the reserve, retired, or retired. After all, over the seventy-five years of its existence, the school has graduated more than 40 thousand officers, more than 300 of them became generals. It so happened that life scattered them to different parts of the world. But they are still faithful to the cadet brotherhood, the friendship that they carried through all the trials, and are full of pride in their native university.
And we have something to be proud of. Our school originates from the 36th Tula infantry courses for red commanders, created by order of the All-Russian General Staff on November 16, 1918. Its graduates took an active part in the Civil War, the fight against bandit elements in the North Caucasus and the Basmachi in Central Asia, with the Phalangists in Spain, repelled the aggression of Japanese militarists on Lake Khasan and the Khalkhin Gol River, contributed to achieving victory over Finland, fought on various fronts of the Great Patriotic War, smashed the Kwantung Army, worked as military advisers, participated in combat operations in Afghanistan, in unblocking interethnic conflicts on the territory of the Soviet Union, in establishing constitutional order in the Chechen Republic. At the same time, they showed courage, heroism, and perseverance everywhere. Suffice it to say that 72 of our graduates became Heroes of the Soviet Union, and Major Generals I.I. Fesin and P.I. Shurukhin were awarded this title twice. Nine pupils of the Ordzhonikidze VOKU are Heroes of Russia.
Marshal of the Armored Forces P.P. served or studied in our school at different times. Poluboyarov, generals S.N. Perevertkin, Yu.P. Kovalev, S.N. Suanov, F.M. Kuzmin, M.N. Tereshchenko, A.I. Sokolov, V.V. Bulgakov, G.P. Kasperovich, V.V. Skokov, N.K. Silchenko and many other military leaders. Among its graduates are military diplomats A.N. Chernikov, I.D. Yurchenko, former President of Ingushetia R.S. Aushev, head of GRU special forces V.V. Kolesnik, world record holder in parachute jumping V.G. Romanyuk and other famous people in the country and abroad.
Many graduates of the Ordzhonikidze VOKU still occupy responsible positions in the State Duma, the Federation Council, the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation and in other state and public structures. Among them, for example, Hero of Russia V.M. Zavarzin, who has headed the State Duma Defense Committee for two convocations, and Doctor of Philosophy A.N. Kanshin, head of the Commission of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation on the affairs of veterans, military personnel and members of their families. The list goes on. By the way, your former colleague from Red Star is also on the list of our graduates. This is P.I. Tkachenko, literary critic, member of the Writers' Union, whose book titles speak for themselves: “When Soldiers Sing,” “From the Flames of Afghanistan,” “Officer’s Romance,” “Special Company. Feat in the Maravar Gorge." He graduated from college in 1971.
- Vitaly Andreevich, it’s no secret that some of your graduates went into business after completing their service...
- And many have achieved significant results in this area. Among them are R.T. Aguzarov, Yu.F. Glushko, N.E. Dontsov, A.L. Epifanov, A.A. Stukov, Yu.Yu. Shapovalov, A.P. Shcherbina and others. Unfortunately, it is impossible to list them all. I will only say that these are true patriots, they provide great practical assistance to their comrades and all those who need it.
In general, it must be said that the school provided its students with versatile training. And most importantly, it instilled in them willpower, the ability to withstand any difficulties. This is a great merit to all those who worked hard and fruitfully, preparing officer cadres for our Motherland: commanders, teachers, civilian personnel. Many thanks to all of them and a deep bow. We honor and remember those who are no longer with us, we pay tribute to their blessed memory.
-Have you had any offers to go into business?
- There were, and some more! For example, at one special event, the boss of some cool company came up and, glancing sideways at my Gold Star, offered me the position of... deputy director. At the same time, he explained that he wouldn’t have to do anything, he’d just have to sit in a respectable office and sometimes attend important meetings. In short, he offered the position of “wedding general.” Of course, I had to upset this boss.
- But now you are a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Reserve Officers of the Armed Forces “MEGAPIR”, where, as far as I know, they also do not shy away from entrepreneurship.
- Yes, I have been cooperating with this organization for a long time and, I must admit, with pleasure. Because I know who I'm dealing with. The Association is initially aimed at supporting the Armed Forces, veterans, families of deceased military personnel and other categories of citizens in need of help. In particular, the MEGAPIR Foundation, which I have been entrusted to head, has been involved for many years in organizing and conducting field training competitions for officers, where the winner receives a car from the association as a prize. We patronize orphanages; the association’s scholarship recipients from among the children of military personnel who died in the line of duty live in 16 regions of the country. Until they reach adulthood, they are paid 500 rubles a month. It is also important for me that this organization is headed by reserve colonel Alexander Kanshin, my former student and colleague. After graduating from the Ordzhonikidze VOKU, he, as one of the best graduates, was left there for Komsomol work. And now we are working together again. By the way, it is under his general editorship that a book about our school is now being published, which, I am sure, will arouse interest among a wide reader.
The school no longer exists since 1993, but the memory of it lives and will live as long as those who served, worked and studied within its walls are alive.
Happy holiday to you comrades, health, happiness, prosperity and long life!
It is necessary to restore the North Caucasus IED to its previous status - under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense
The Commission of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation on problems of national security and socio-economic living conditions of military personnel, members of their families and veterans held hearings on the topic “On the prospects for the development of Suvorov military schools in the Russian Federation.” We publish excerpts from the speeches given.
The main issue is the reconstruction of the North Caucasus Suvorov Military School (SKSVU) in the Ministry of Defense system on the basis of the current Vladikavkaz Cadet Corps.
In line with state policy
In 1918, the 36th Tula Infantry Courses for Red Commanders were created, which laid the foundation for the Ordzhonikidze Higher Combined Arms Command Twice Red Banner School named after Marshal of the Soviet Union A.I. Eremenko (OVOCU). In May 1924, the 17th Tula Infantry School (formerly the 36th course) was relocated to Vladikavkaz and became known as the 17th Vladikavkaz Infantry School. I, a graduate of Ordzhonikidze VOKU, know the cities. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Vladikavkaz Cadet Corps was created there, and a unique building was built. All this is evidence of the once correct policy to strengthen the region.
I remember that in our school there were children from all nations of the Soviet Union. We were different. For four years they received higher education, but most importantly, they studied the traditions of the North Caucasus and the peoples of the USSR in general. We were taught to be friends, culture, history. Then, after leaving school, leaving abroad, to other republics, territories, regions, we, having such potential, worked with soldiers, the local population, introduced this culture, developed it. We were actually educators and conductors of correct interethnic policies. Ours and other schools in Vladikavkaz played a huge role in instilling tolerance in our people, forming a sense of friendship, respect for peoples of different nationalities, for people in general.
The officer both in the Russian Empire and in the USSR carried state ideas and preserved the integrity of the country. Today we are somehow gradually leaving the North Caucasus, including by reducing military schools. OVOCU, the Ordzhonikidze Higher Military Command Red Banner School of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR named after S. M. Kirov (OVVKKU, later the North Caucasus Military Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs), and the Ordzhonikidze Higher Anti-Aircraft Missile Command School of Air Defense (OVZRKU) were destroyed.
This year marked the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad. There is a book about OVOKU. She says: during the most difficult period in November 1942, when Manstein was sent for a breakthrough - to release Paulus, all Vladikavkaz schools were sent to the front. The boys were alerted and unloaded at the Chirskaya station. All three schools died in the snow to prevent Manstein’s tank columns from breaking through. We can imagine what kind of training the cadets had and what kind of training our militias had with two weeks of training. The cadets spent months, and sometimes years, preparing for a real war. They played the most important role in the Battle of Stalingrad. It is not for nothing that our school, OVOCU, was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Battle, and many graduates became Heroes of the Soviet Union.
After the collapse of the USSR, the Vladikavkaz School became the only base for mountain training for officers. Look at our borders. How many mountainous territories we have, starting from the Far East and ending in the north. Mountain training is required everywhere. The kind of base that was in OVOKU no longer exists. There were schools in Almaty, Tbilisi, but the best was in Vladikavkaz. I say this as a former officer of the General Staff of the Ground Forces, who inspected all the combined arms schools. There were eight of them in the Soviet Union, and the best mountain training was in Vladikavkaz.
Concluding the historical part, I note: if we had achieved the legal status of the Suvorov School, owned by the Ministry of Defense, we would not only have passed on glorious traditions to the current Vladikavkaz Cadet Corps, but also strengthened our state. It is necessary to take into account the political situation and significance of the region, as well as the role of officer training. I propose to revive the history and traditions of OVOKU on the basis of the current cadet corps. Another option: let the corps remain the cadet (Suvorov) school of the Ministry of Education, but at the same time - the legal successor of both the Imperial Cadet Corps and the Higher Combined Arms Command School of the USSR Armed Forces.
Alexander Kanshin,
Chairman of the Public Chamber Commission on National Security Issues and Social and Economic Living Conditions of Military Personnel, Members of Their Families and Veterans
The Ministry of Defense does not withdraw itself
We are very sensitive to what we have. We are talking about pre-university educational institutions of the Suvorov School system, the Nakhimov School, and cadet corps. The same applies to higher military educational institutions. The Ministry of Defense is now reviving traditions and military-patriotic education. It’s no secret that one of the first decisions of the Minister of Defense was the return of Suvorov students and cadets to parades in 2013. Such events were held in all cities where pre-university educational institutions are located.
The next step is that by order of the Minister of Defense, the Suvorov and Nakhimov schools and cadet corps are subordinated to the corresponding commanders-in-chief, that is, the chiefs in whose interests the training will subsequently take place. Basically, all IEDs are sent to the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces. Ulyanovsk School - to the commander of the Airborne Forces. St. Petersburg Cadet Corps - Deputy Minister of Defense, Army General Bulgakov. Maritime pre-university educational institutions, primarily St. Petersburg Nakhimovskoe, to the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.
Next, we made the departmental system of pre-university education more open and understandable. Currently, we are finishing the enrollment of minors in pre-university educational institutions. Over 1,700 people were selected. Competition for pre-university educational institutions this year is significantly higher than last year. This is also facilitated by the fact that the Minister of Defense has expanded the categories of citizens for admission to departmental educational institutions. The privilege to enroll only children of military personnel and civilian personnel, orphans, and children without parental care has been lifted. The current admissions campaign includes all minor citizens.
A decision was made to restore the military component of training. From September 1, we plan to introduce the subject “Fundamentals of Military Service,” including drill and fire training. In grades 10–11 – military regional studies. In the summer, at least two weeks, and in some educational institutions even three weeks, trips to specialized military educational institutions are planned for Suvorov, Nakhimov, and cadets. There they will be able to get acquainted with the life of cadets and gain basic knowledge about their chosen military specialties.
This year, about 90 percent of graduates of pre-university educational institutions of the Ministry of Defense decided to enter universities of the Ministry of Defense. The rest preferred the FSB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
On the merits of the issue.
In 2010–2011, the North Caucasus Suvorov Military School was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. However, I repeat, each school is unique for us, so we support any such institution even when it is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense. We still don't lose touch.
Until 2011, the SKSVU was maintained in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Defense and the government of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The powers to manage the educational institution were divided. Later, the parliament of the republic adopted a resolution on the transfer of IEDs to the region. Corresponding appeals have been sent to the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation and the head of the republic. Further: the legislation of the Russian Federation did not allow maintaining an institution on co-financing terms. Two new articles were introduced into the budget code (38.1 and 60). In order to solve this problem, the military department reported the situation to the president of the country and proposed either amending the budget code to return to co-financing, or looking for new ways to co-found cadet-type educational institutions.
Igor Muravlyannikov,
Acting Head of the Military Education Department of the Main Directorate of the Military Institution of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Colonel
Only state interests
It is necessary to move from the language of financial to state-political. The basic position is that which is proposed to the public in many public speeches of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. When we set about recreating this historical military educational institution, the situation in the North Caucasus was better. However, there was little money and response from government agencies.
Now the situation is not ideal, but there is much more understanding at different levels. We are talking about preserving the continuity and military intelligentsia that are characteristic of the Russian and, in general, the Greater Caucasus as part of historical Russia. The departure of military schools from the region and their abolition is political myopia.
Last fall, I spoke at a large international forum in Bulgaria dedicated to the 135th anniversary of the victory in the Russian-Turkish War of 1877–1878. I talked about the battles of two Vladikavkaz front line regiments on Shipka. This aroused great interest. Thus, we have a glorious military past. The fact that there is no Suvorov School, the universities of the Moscow Region, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Border Guards have been liquidated is a mistake.
The approach to solving this issue should not be through numbers. If there is state will, it does not matter whether there are 600 or 800 students on staff (the question was raised of how many cadets the school should have). You don’t have to ask for two or three years to fix the problem. Some decisions are made quickly, as on a battlefield, if it suits political expediency.
With my personal conversations in 1998 with the president and chairman of the government, the filling of the newly opened VCA with everything necessary began. We weren't interested in money back then. We carried these things on ourselves in the hope that we would later transfer it to the Ministry of Defense. Now completely opposite information is being voiced.
So, there was a presidential order on the re-establishment of the school, a detailed government decree dated March 2, 2000, a directive of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces dated August 18, 1999, and an order of the Minister of Defense dated April 11, 2000. License No. 1342 dated April 2, 2010 was received, valid until April 3, 2015, in accordance with which the SKSVU must operate in the system of the Ministry of Defense.
In 2008, we managed, using primarily political arguments, to defend the school. Former Defense Minister Serdyukov assured that there would be no liquidation. However, later, in 2011, all authorities were ignored. The decision taken was not even brought to the level of verbal agreement. This is an elementary, textbook procedure in the state. Military-political aspects were forgotten. Property and inventory turned out to be more important.
The school has disappeared. Today it is necessary to create a precedent: in order to correct the erroneous decisions of the Serdyukov era, it is necessary to cancel the completely inexplicable - the liquidation of SKSVU.
While traditions are not forgotten, there is aspiration, a spirit, it is important to focus on restoring a unique educational institution. The Public Chamber, which has special authority among a huge number of organizations, must resolve this issue.
Now we are working hard on a unified story. The diversity of teenage educational institutions triggers the opposite process. It is wrong to take away the Suvorov schools. The competition between law enforcement agencies creates an image that is by no means all-Russian. In each of them it is proven that their federal department is the most excellent, that without them the country would simply disappear. This is absurd.
Alexander Dzasokhov,
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Commission for UNESCO
Decisions made
Based on the results of the meeting and public hearings that took place on the territory of the republic, as well as taking into account the social and political significance of this educational institution in the training of military personnel from among the youth of the republics of the North Caucasus, the commission will write a letter to the Minister of Defense with a request to consider the possibility of restoring the North Caucasus Suvorov Military School military school in its previous status - under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense. The Commission of the Public Chamber is creating a working group headed by the first deputy chairman of the commission, Vladimir Lagkuev, which will monitor the situation related to the restoration of SVUU in Vladikavkaz.
Alexander Kanshin
Reference
On September 26, 1901, the Vladikavkaz Cadet Corps (1901–1917) was created by a personal decree of Emperor Nicholas II.
1919 – The Vladikavkaz Cadet Corps was restored in the Armed Forces of the South of Russia.
On March 4, 1920, he retreated in marching order to Georgia, from where he was transferred to the Crimea. In the Russian army in Crimea, from the remnants of it and the Poltava Cadet Corps, the Crimean Cadet Corps was created, located in Oreanda, and then evacuated to Yugoslavia.
In August 1947, the school was relocated by three railway trains to the capital of North Ossetia - the city of Dzaudzhikau (since 1954 - Ordzhonikidze, since 1990 - Vladikavkaz) and became known as the North Caucasian SVU.
1948 – first issue of SKSVU.
1948–1958 – Caucasian Red Banner Suvorov Officer School (Suvorov officers and cadets).
1958–1965 – Caucasian Red Banner IED (Suvorov military personnel only).
1965–1968 – Ordzhonikidze IED.
1968–1988 - on the basis of the Suvorov and combined arms schools, the Ordzhonikidze Higher Combined Arms Command Twice Red Banner School named after Marshal of the Soviet Union A. I. Eremenko (OVOCU) was created and graduates officers.
2000 - opening of a new SKSVU (2000–2011), restored on the basis of the order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation dated April 11, 2000 with the active support of the President of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania Alexander Dzasokhov.
April 2, 2010 - SKSVU received license No. 1342, according to which the school must operate in the Ministry of Defense system until April 3, 2015.
2011 – SKSVU was closed, the property was transferred to the Ministry of Education of the Republic in 2012.
2012 – opening of the Vladikavkaz Cadet Corps outside the Russian Defense Ministry system.
About the university
The North Caucasus Military Institute of Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia was formed on the basis of the infantry department of the Novo-Peterhof Military School of the NKVD named after. K.E. Voroshilov, which on May 3, 1938 was transferred to the city of Ordzhonikidze (now Vladikavkaz) and received the name “Ordzhonikidze Military School of Border and Internal Troops of the NKVD named after. CM. Kirov". May 2 is an annual holiday of the university. The first graduation of officers from the school took place on September 18, 1938.
In November 1942 - January 1943, the school's personnel took part in the battles for the city of Ordzhonikidze and the North Caucasus, during which 138 of its students who distinguished themselves were nominated for state awards. During the war years, the school trained more than 5 thousand officers. In 1951-1953, the training of future officers was carried out for 2 years, since 1954 - 3 years. From 1961 to 1973, the university trained officers with secondary military and secondary legal education. On February 22, 1968, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the school was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. In 1974, it was transformed into a higher education institution with a 4-year term of study, and since 1992 it switched to a 5-year term of study.
On July 2, 1999, by order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, on the basis of an order of the Government of the Russian Federation, the school was transformed into the North Caucasus Military Red Banner Institute.
The personnel of the institute took an active part in special business trips to resolve interethnic conflicts in Fergana, Samarkand, Sukhumi, Tbilisi, Karabakh, twice in Sumgait, Baku and Yerevan, performed and continues to perform service and combat missions as part of the group of internal troops of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Chechen Republic.
For courage and heroism, 7 students of the university were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Among them: Lieutenant General Stashek N.I., Colonel Leonov D.V., Lieutenant Colonel Karasev V.A., Major Voronkov N.S., Lieutenants Morin F.V. and Spirin V.R., and Major General Fesin I.M. this title was awarded twice. In the post-war period, carrying out responsible service and combat missions, 13 graduates of the institute became Heroes of Russia: Colonel General Labunets M.I., Major Generals Grudnov I.S., Skrypnik N.V. (posthumously), Colonel Lysyuk S.I., Lieutenant Colonels Krestyaninov A.V., and Savchenko A.R. (posthumously), Major Gritsyuk S.A. (posthumously), Major Velichko V.V., Major Zadorozhny I.S., senior lieutenants Varlakov O.E. (posthumously), Ostroukhov E.V., lieutenants Zozulya A.S. (posthumously), Ryndin E.Yu. (posthumously).
Over the 69 years of its existence, the military institute has produced 136 graduates, of which 102 are basic, 26 are external and 8 courses for training junior officers, as well as 18 graduates of advanced training courses for officers. During this period, over 29 thousand officers were trained and released into the troops. During the period of military service, more than 150 graduates of the institute were awarded the highest officer rank - “general”.
The North Caucasus Military Institute of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia is one of the oldest military educational institutions of the internal troops and is located in Vladikavkaz, the capital of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The educational and material base of the institute includes classrooms, lecture halls, a military shooting range, an autodrome, a tankodrome, a tactical field, a training facility for classes in engineering and technical support for combat activities and tactical training of internal troops, a sports town, a stadium, a canteen, a clinic, a club, a printing house, a shooting range, large and small combat parade grounds, a training place for mountain training, barracks, a dormitory for senior cadets, consumer service enterprises, a store, a post office, a cafeteria, boiler rooms and warehouses.
The scientific potential of the military institute meets all the requirements of state accreditation for military educational institutions of higher professional education.
During their studies, future officers of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia take an active part in the work of the military scientific society, conferences, seminars, round tables, get acquainted with the history and cultural values of the city of Vladikavkaz and the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, other republics of the North Caucasus, meet with famous Caucasus scientists, writers, poets, graduates of the institute holding responsible government positions, representatives of security agencies, military justice, courts, and prosecutors. Creative groups of the Republican Academic Russian Theater named after E.B. perform for the cadets. Vakhtangov, North Ossetian State Academic Theater named after V.S. Thapsaev, the North Ossetian Musical Theater and the State Philharmonic, the state ensemble "Alan", the ensembles "Highlander" and the Terek Cossack Army.
The center for organizing cultural leisure is the institute’s club, where, together with students from the city’s universities, recreational evenings, debates, KVNs, competitions and youth discos are held. The institute operates a university of culture, cadets study in circles for lovers of poetry, art songs, and amateur performances.
In the process of training and education of future officers of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, much attention is paid to physical training and sports. Among the officers and cadets of the institute there are prize-winners of All-Russian competitions, championships of internal troops and the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania in various types of wrestling, athletics, hand-to-hand combat, officer all-around, athletic gymnastics, handball, mountaineering and other sports. Senior Lecturer of the Department of Physical Training and Sports, Lieutenant Colonel Korenkov V.A. He twice conquered the highest peak in the world, Everest (8847 m).
The university pays great attention to the education of future officers based on the combat and service traditions of the internal troops and the institute. Since 1954, the institute has operated the “Museum of Military Glory and History of the Institute”, which since December 23, 1978 has been transformed into a branch of the Central Museum of Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. The museum's exhibitions reveal the history and combat path of the internal troops and the military institute, the contribution of each generation of the university to the formation and development of traditions, show examples of courageous and decisive actions of personnel when performing service and combat missions in various “hot spots” of the former USSR, Afghanistan and the Chechen Republic . Over the period of time since its formation, the museum has been visited by more than 100 thousand people.
The military institute has developed glorious traditions, a highly professional scientific and pedagogical team has been formed, capable of preparing qualified officer personnel for the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, meeting modern requirements.
| Ordzhonikidze Higher Combined Arms Command Twice Red Banner School named after Marshal of the Soviet Union A. I. Eremenko OrdzhVOKU |
|
|---|---|
| Years of existence | November 16, 1918 March 3, 1993 |
| A country | USSR USSR→Russia Russia |
| Subordination | Ministry of Defense of the USSR → Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation |
| Included in | SKVO |
| Type | military educational institution |
| Dislocation |
Costa Avenue 34, Ordzhonikidze, SO ASSR |
| Participation in |
Civil War , The Great Patriotic War |
| Marks of Excellence | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | |
Ordzhonikidze Higher Combined Arms Command Twice Red Banner School named after Marshal of the Soviet Union A. I. Eremenko ( OrdzhVOKU) - a military educational institution of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, which bore different names in different years of its existence.
Story
Pre-war period
On November 16, 1918, in Tula, by order of the All-Russian General Staff, the 36th Tula Infantry Courses for Red Commanders were formed, the task of which was to train junior commanders for the infantry units of the Red Army.
On October 2, 1919, the first graduation of commanders took place, which was attended by the Chairman of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee M.I. Kalinin.
On December 31, 1920, the 36th Tula Infantry Course was transformed into the 17th Tula Infantry School of the Red Army command staff.
In May 1924, the 17th Tula Infantry School was relocated to Vladikavkaz and renamed the 17th Vladikavkaz Infantry School.
The first graduation of junior commanders at the new deployment point took place in August 1925.
In the period from 1919 to 1930, cadets of the infantry school took part in the Civil War and in the suppression of anti-government uprisings in the Don and North Caucasus.
The Great Patriotic War
With the beginning of the war, the school continued training commanders for the Red Army.
In July 1942, due to the difficult situation created at the fronts, a cadet regiment was formed from some of the school’s cadets under the command of the head of the school, Colonel I. D. Lavrentyev. This regiment was sent to the Stalingrad Front as part of the 64th Army. Initially, by mid-July 1942, the cadet regiment was assigned to strengthen the 29th Infantry Division. By the end of August 1942, the cadet regiment, together with the cadet regiment from the Zhitomir Infantry School, was transferred to reinforce the 126th Infantry Division.
Upon the departure of the school's personnel to the front, from the remnants of the officer corps the school was again restored under its former name. By the end of January 1943, a new set of cadets for training was made.
Due to the approaching front line in August 1942, the school was relocated to the Georgian SSR, to the city of Lagodekhi. At the new location, in early September, 2 anti-tank destroyer battalions were formed from the remaining cadet battalions and sent to the front, to the areas of Tuapse, Gelendzhik and Novorossiysk.
At the end of September, one cadet battalion, along with officers and political workers, was sent to defend the Zagatala passes. Later, this battalion became part of the 103rd separate cadet brigade, which took part in the defense of Novorossiysk in January 1943.
In October 1942, another cadet battalion of the school became part of the 164th cadet brigade. This brigade became part of the 10th Rifle Corps of the 4th Army and took part in hostilities from the end of October to November 1942 on the territory of the North Ossetian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
In October 1943, the school sent the third cadet battalion to the front, which took part in the fighting for the liberation of Ukraine, as part of the 38th Infantry Division.
On November 18, 1943, in honor of the 25th anniversary of its creation, the 1st Ordzhonikidze Red Banner Infantry School was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for success in training commanders and participation in hostilities.
In total, of the approximately 2,000 cadets of the 1st Ordzhonikidze Red Banner Infantry School, sent to the front during the war as part of cadet regiments and cadet battalions, about 120 people survived.
Post-war period
In September 1945, the first post-war graduation of lieutenants was carried out at the school.
On December 13, 1972, for numerous merits and contributions to the defense capability of the state, as well as in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the USSR, the school was awarded the Anniversary Honorary Badge of the CPSU Central Committee by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Council of Ministers of the USSR.
During the Afghan War, the Ordzhonikidze General Arms School was one of three schools in which cadets were trained in mountain training.
In mid-July, a meeting of graduates of the Ordzhonikidze Higher Military Command Red Banner School of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs named after S.M. will take place in Moscow. Kirov, who graduated in 1989. Many such anniversary meetings take place in Russia every year. Nevertheless, this meeting is somehow special. There are people who two decades ago, by the will of their hearts, went to learn to defend their Motherland - then a great and powerful state. But two years after graduation, the Soviet Union ceased to exist. And they had to find themselves in a new country and a new life.
“The tests for the cadets of this course,” says the former head of the school, Major General of the Reserve Garry Afanasyevich Feodorov, “began literally from the very first days of study.” Due to the overload of the barracks fund, it was decided to place freshmen in the Kamgaron training center - among the mountains and forests. Of course, we prepared it accordingly. But still it was not a stationary base. However, as it turned out later, the hardening acquired at this training center practically in the field conditions was very soon useful to our pets. The course actually did not leave business trips to “hot spots”: Sumgait, Yerevan, Baku, Tbilisi... The cadets always behaved well and completed all the tasks assigned to them. Moreover, during the period of business trips we did not lose a single person. But how many times have you found yourself in extreme situations!
The head of the school is echoed by the former commander of the 10th company, graduated in 1989, reserve colonel Murtuz Iskanderovich Gyulmamedov:
- I am proud of my students. For any yesterday's student, the transition from school to military school is not easy. And the guys were immediately placed “in the field.” It was not easy to adapt psychologically, and the physical stress was enormous. At the same time, despite all the difficulties, practically no one was expelled from the company. Now I remember with particular warmth many nuances: how great the guys sang the drill song “Soar, O Falcons, Like Eagles,” how they competed with me in pistol shooting for an additional dismissal, how they stood for each other during business trips to “hot spots.” By the way, when we went to Sumgait, to Yerevan, the question directly concerned me: is it advisable to send an Azerbaijani to this conflict zone. But, as far as I know, the head of the school said: this is “Gyulya”, he is beyond nationalities, his nationality is a Soviet person. For me, there really were no “compatriots” or “favorites” in the company. They were all like children to me. And I am happy that the friendship of the 1989 graduates has stood the test of time. The sacred rule “One for all and all for one!” still applies for them. 
Reserve Colonel Sergei Vasilievich Gushchin headed the department of social sciences at the school in the second half of the 1980s.
- Do you know what I remember most about this course? - he asks a question. - With his determination and early maturation. The changes that were brewing and were already taking place in the country forced the cadets to persistently seek answers to many pressing questions. They expected these answers from us, teachers. It was impossible to conduct a conversation with them in the old way, from the standpoint of established dogmas. It was necessary to conduct a dialogue with them. I am absolutely sure that it was the ability to understand the ongoing processes that helped these guys enter adult officer life with honor and dignity. In this life, they proved to themselves and others that no matter what happens in this world, such sacred concepts as the Motherland, patriotism, true male friendship are unshakable.
Tactics teacher, reserve colonel Boris Romanovich Bugrov notes the special hardening of the course:
- The boys grew up literally before our eyes. Moreover, the training took place in conditions as close as possible to combat conditions. In the second year, Sumgait and Yerevan awaited them, in the third - Baku, in the fourth - Tbilisi. As a result, we received a perfectly trained squad of officers. Our pets have lived up to their trust. Over the two decades that have passed since parting with them, I have constantly received news about the conscientious fulfillment of their constitutional duty by graduates of the school of 1989.
“In our hearts,” says Alexey Lyalin, a graduate of that same year, now a successful businessman, vice-president of the Interregional public organization “Kirovtsy,” “there lived a love not for governments and political systems, but for the Fatherland, devotion to the Motherland that gave us raised.
After graduating from college with honors, Alexey was sent to Kazakhstan, where he served in the head regiment of the Internal Troops of the city of Alma-Ata, and then in a special-purpose brigade. After the collapse of the Union, not a single officer from his company took a different oath. The company was disbanded. 
Perhaps, precisely because Alexei’s officer career was cut short so early and offensively, he directed his unspent energy to debugging the work of the interregional public organization “Kirovtsi”, of which he is currently one of the leaders. The organization (president - Colonel General Anatoly Afanasyevich Shkirko) was created for the purpose of uniting and providing assistance to military personnel of the Internal Troops and internal affairs officers, persons transferred to the reserve, members of their families, to protect and realize their common interests. It systematically carries out charitable, humanitarian and other events in support of disabled people and veterans, combatants, units of the Internal Troops performing service and combat missions to protect the constitutional order of Russia and the fight against terrorism, and is engaged in military-patriotic education of youth. In addition to this - providing assistance to military personnel transferred to the reserve, facilitating their adaptation to civilian life, organizing socio-psychological rehabilitation for those who went through the war.
Meetings of alumni of different generations are held annually. The twentieth anniversary of the Class of 1989 is one such event.
“The main goal of such meetings,” says Lyalin, “is to preserve the spirit of our illustrious school, its traditions.” When we meet, it’s as if we are returning to our roots. And, despite the fact that we left the walls of the school twenty years ago, we still proudly bear the title “Kirovets”, for us it is something akin to a maroon beret.
The fates of the graduates turned out differently. But the school certainly has the right to be proud of the vast majority of its students.
Reserve Major Sergei Fursyak.
During his service in various structures, he went on business trips to Chechnya 17 times. On August 20, 2000, a detachment of the Voronezh OMON under the command of Captain Alexander Budantsev, which included Sergei Fursyak, escorted members of the district election commission from Achkhoy-Martan to Lermontov-Yurt and back. In the area of the Samashkinsky forest, in front of the bridge over the Fortanga River, the detachment was attacked by militants. Fursyak stopped the bandits’ attack with fire from an armored personnel carrier. In that battle, the riot police lost their commander, who was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia.
Colonel Yuri Goris.
His service was a chain of endless business trips to “hot spots”. It's hard to even count them. Yuri repeatedly found himself in extreme situations. Thus, in the fall of 2001, in the Kurchaloevsky district of Chechnya, his unit encountered a group of militants. Thanks to the clear, competent actions of the officers, the enemy was scattered. Yuri contributed to the outcome of that battle, but was seriously wounded.
Reserve Colonel Mikhail Dashkov.
Mikhail has had his share of armed conflicts: North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya. He calls escorting transport convoys one of the most risky episodes. Each such operation was fraught with potential threats. And especially memorable was the escort of the convoy from Ingushetia to Shali in 1996. Then only the professionalism, endurance and confidence of his subordinates did not allow the militants to destroy the column. Mikhail is sure that the hardening acquired at the school helped and is helping to successfully carry out combat missions not only in “hot spots”. There was a period in his service when he was involved in the protection of important government facilities. This required no less mobilization, responsibility and concentration of all forces. And he also successfully coped with these tasks.
Lieutenant Colonel Andrey Puz.
He commanded a sapper battalion in Chechnya. Daily risk. Work without room for error. The most memorable episode dates back to August 2000. Engineering reconnaissance consisting of 4 people under the command of Andrei walked ahead of the reconnaissance battalion. The sappers were slightly separated from the main forces when the scouts ran into an ambush. The sappers clearly did not have enough strength, especially after one of the fighters was killed and the other was wounded. But the sappers were the first to aim artillery at the bandits, as a result of which the enemy was soon partially destroyed and partially scattered.
Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Igor Podorov.
Of all the numerous business trips to “hot spots”, the events of the first Chechen campaign are most memorable to him. Then, in conditions of high intensity of hostilities, a lot depended on the officers. At the most decisive moments: when there were battles in the city, when crossing the Terek was carried out, when they came under massive mortar fire, Podorov more than once made decisions that not only contributed to the accomplishment of the task assigned to him, but also saved the lives of his subordinates.
Reserve Colonel Anatoly Purchel.
He served for twelve and a half years in the North Caucasus, during the most turbulent time for this region. As he puts it himself, he had one, but very long business trip. Of the so-called extreme situations, an episode will forever remain in his memory when a column moving along the Rostov-Baku highway was ambushed near the village of Novogroznensky. The battle lasted about five hours. The competent organization of defense not only thwarted the plans of the bandits, but also allowed them to avoid casualties. The officer is especially proud of this circumstance. I am grateful to the school for giving him a military profession, helping him set his life priorities correctly, and strengthening his character.
Happy anniversary of the graduation of students from the Ordzhonikidze Higher Military Command Red Banner School of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs named after S.M. Kirov of the 1989 model was congratulated by the president of the Interregional public organization “Kirovtsy”, Colonel General Anatoly Afanasyevich Shkirko (in the period from 1995 to 1997 - commander of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation).
“I spent my entire service,” he said, “with the awareness that I am a Kirov resident.” “Kirovets” is an exemplary service to the Fatherland and the greatest responsibility. Today's birthday boys certainly meet these criteria. Twenty years later they gathered together again, battle-hardened, wise by life experience. I sincerely wish them further success in all their affairs and endeavors for the benefit of Russia!