The end of recruiting. As an IT professional, I spent half a year preparing for mobilization without a TSC, but at the end of the journey I never received the promised offer
For your attention, the continuation of the story of the recruitment of the Haitian, with whom we spoke anonymously in July. In the four months that have passed since then, he has been in contact with the selected team, traveled (as it seemed) to the signing of the contract, but again went into standby mode. Recently, it became finally clear that the six-month journey was unsuccessful and now the boy is starting all over again. Why getting into the chosen unit is not such an easy task, as we often hear in the statements of officials and what our interlocutor will do next, read in the material. Next is the direct speech of an almost mobilized person.
For your attention, the continuation of the story of the recruitment of the Haitian, with whom we spoke anonymously in July. In the four months that have passed since then, he has been in contact with the selected team, traveled (as it seemed) to the signing of the contract, but again went into standby mode. Recently, it became finally clear that the six-month journey was unsuccessful and now the boy is starting all over again. Why getting into the chosen unit is not such an easy task, as we often hear in the statements of officials and what our interlocutor will do next, read in the material. Next is the direct speech of an almost mobilized person.
A perfect start
In 2013, in parallel with my IT specialty, I graduated from the military department and received the rank of «junior reserve lieutenant». I am a «jacket», that is, I have no combat experience. My VOS (military accounting specialty — ed.) is a military psychologist, aka MPZ (moral and psychological support).
Seeing queues at the TSC (I hate queues) and knowing from acquaintances who are already serving, what a lottery with distribution it is going to be, I was afraid to go update my data. I had no confidence in the TSC.
At the end of 2023, I decided to go the recruiting route. I monitored the pages in the social networks of various brigades, watched interviews of military personnel and commanders, reviewed the vacancies they offered on LobbyX and other platforms.
At the same time, I took specialized courses in military psychology, read relevant literature, went to techmed, went to training with weapons (there are many different and high-quality of them now), talked with those who are already serving, etc. In general, when you read and see about a specific unit, then you roughly understand what kind of spirit it has, what people are there, what messages it carries, etc.
I chose the vacancies on LobbyX that corresponded to my profile and responded to 5 of them — IT and military-psychological. Mobilization in the IT direction is, of course, an ideal option, but you should always have insurance, especially in the army. That’s why I was satisfied with mobilization in the MPZ direction.
One of the important motivations for me is to really learn the military and be useful to my unit. When you «just do the number» in any job, it is very demotivating for both you and your colleagues. Yes, yes, this is the army, here often everything is decided by orders from above. But since I am an officer, I will also make decisions. I want my unit to have a fun atmosphere.
«They have their own CRM, that’s okay!». Aytivets talks about his personal experience of adequate mobilization, which depends exclusively (unexpectedly!) on you
Desired brigade
I also went to the brigades' websites and filled out the forms they offered. This is the option that worked. Within an hour, I received a call from two units of the National Guard. I’ve heard that the standard processing time for resumes sent through Defense Forces job search sites is 2-3 months.
In one of the units, they clarified my data and scheduled an online interview with a sergeant. The sergeant and I spoke for about 15 minutes. We got to know each other, I told about my experience, said that I want to get a contract and work in the IT field. He talked about the division and said that the IT option is possible. Looks like it’s a match.
Next, the sergeant dropped a list of documents — this is part of the instructions for the VLK for its faster passage. In two weeks, I collected all certificates for the place of residence (did you know that 1 certificate from a narcologist in a state clinic costs UAH 400?) and went to the VLK to another region. It was May. There he met future brothers and sisters. Many of that group were 20-25 years old. I was pleasantly surprised: these are very brave young people, we will definitely have something to learn from each other. And next to such «charged» volunteers there is an additional motivation to teach even better.
Doctors at VLK were asked about complaints and health problems. If you talked about them, you were sent for an additional check.
But now everyone is being mobilized. You need to have an almost fatal disease to be «written off».
This does not mean that you should be silent about your illnesses, but be prepared that 99% of the time you are already mobilized if you are on the VLC and if you do not have a reservation. The whole procedure was quick for me. I said that I have no complaints (in fact, I do) and went to the next doctor. A week later came the conclusion of the VLK about my suitability for service. The conclusion of the VLK is sent to the brigade and it (or a copy) is not handed over.
The Ministry of Defense reported on the number of responses to the recruitment program in «Reserve+» and through specialized recruiting centers. In which regions are most willing to serve?
Get a summons
It was June. My plan was to go through BZVP (basic general military training — ed.) in the warmer months. Still, heat is better than rain and snow. A week after passing VLK, I received a call from the brigade and was told to arrive in the next few days (this is another city 500 km away). I asked if we could postpone it for a week, because I was out of town and didn’t have time to gather so quickly, and I got permission.
The things packed are a 7-kilogram rucksack with clothes, quality tourniquets, a large first-aid kit for all occasions, personal hygiene items, a large power bank and a carrier, a bib, crocs and a water bottle. I will ask the brigades which one to arrive at and at which address. There is no answer. I call — there is no answer.
I have already purchased tickets and booked a hotel for the night. Later, they called me back and said that there is no need to go anywhere yet, because there is a separate check for officers.
No inspection was mentioned since the beginning of recruiting. They did not say how long it will last.
I went into «standby mode». I wrote once every few weeks asking about an update. The inspection went on and on. This is how the summer passed and the hope of passing the BZVP in warm days. At the same time, I was added to chats with guys with whom I passed VLK (thinking that I was one of them). For the boys, everything worked like clockwork: VLK — signing a contract — military training — additional military training — military training in a specialty. They are already serving, each in his own specialty. But none of them had an officer rank, unlike me.
The check has already taken 2 months, and there has been no news. I always wrote first. I didn’t receive any messages from the brigade that we, they say, remember your candidacy. Probably, this is how it is established in the army — to keep everything a secret.
One day, on my way home from work, I met a representative of the TSC and the police, there were two of them. I did not have a copy of the VLK (it is not handed out), nor was it in «Reserve+» (it is entered into the system after signing the contract). So what should I «cover»? I updated the data in «Reserve+» on time, but there is a question with VLK. I began to explain that I was following the recruiting system. I had a photo of the referral to the VLK, and I showed it. During the VLK, I took a picture of the psychiatrist’s report. This is proof that I was on VLK. He also showed this photo.
The representative of the TSC looked at all this and issued me a summons. He said that I am an officer, so the TSC will help as much as possible in choosing a position. I asked if they would help me get into the brigade I wanted and almost passed? He remained silent.
I immediately wrote to the brigade that at such rates someone from the TSC would take me away. There they quickly sent a letter requesting that this team was picking me up and said (what a coincidence!) that the inspection had been passed. I can go to the signing of the contract.
«No one can give a reprieve from the army better than the system itself.» The story of an Haitian who got into the «Bermuda triangle» between TSC, recruiting and digitalization
Features of the system
After dusting off my 7-kilogram military backpack, I took the tickets again and booked a hotel in a city 500 km away. This time I was told at which address to arrive. Having spent the night in a hotel, I arrived at the indicated place. There I met a guy who also came to sign the contract. Together, we were taken to the office, where we handed over DNA samples (in case of death) and filled out questionnaires for contact of close relatives.
Then they went to the personnel department. It turned out that my new comrade does not have an officer rank, but I do. We were directed to different personnel. They took away the previously prepared documents from me, made me write a statement in the name of the commander of the brigade and… told me that I was free and to wait for approval «from above».
I asked, what if I meet TSC, because there was a similar case recently. They replied that they do not give any information and you just need to calmly talk to the TSC, because there are also people working there, they will understand everything. Also told that approval should happen within 2-3 weeks.
My new friend left 20 minutes after me and went to the part. And I, who did not take tickets home, began to think about how to get back. In the end, he went by bus. Some 8 hours and you are home!
A week, a second, a third passed. I’m back to my update tactics. There was no news. They promised to write to me as soon as they appear. Another 2 months have passed.
In the end, I turned to another representative of the brigade, whom I found on social networks. He confirmed that it really was a long time. However, a minute later, the recruiter wrote to me, adding that there should be positive news next week.
And they happened. They gave me a new date for signing the contract, but did not tell me the address of arrival. They relied on the fact that certain changes had taken place in the brigade, so they will write it on the day I leave. I (you’ll never guess) took the tickets and booked a hotel in a city 500 km away. However, already having the experience of previous interaction, I began to ask where I should arrive. There was no answer all day, and I had to leave the next day. In the end, they wrote back in the evening that everything was being postponed until next week. I handed in my tickets and started looking for a new crew. God sees, I did my best, but not fate.
After several days of active searching, I found a new team through LobbyX. It immediately said that the mobilization of officers for recruitment will take several months and explained in detail what will happen at each of the stages. I started recruiting again.
It turned out to be a difficult task to mobilize to the desired brigade for the appropriate position, if you do not have acquaintances or connections in it.
The other day, the previous team called and told them to come. They proposed a new plan — to pass the VLC at the local TSC in a few hours and immediately sign the contract. Not a word about the previously chosen position. They also say that the inspection time does not depend on them. I already have a passed VLK, what should I do with it? Just skimp? So why did I go through it? Spent time and money on the road. And where is the guarantee that this is a verified TSC and I will not be «abandoned». I refused this option, explaining that I had chosen another brigade. At that point, we parted peacefully.
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