Top IT specialist quit a high-paying job and join the International Legion to train soldiers

A serviceman of the 4th International Legion for Defence of Ukraine with the call sign Dexter is a classic dream of girls who love Instagram. Knowledge of foreign languages, a high-paying job in an international company, a challenging day-to-day job that brings a decent income, the opportunity to live a peaceful, stable and safe life - what else is needed for happiness? But, as a true man and partisan, the volunteer could not sit on the sidelines while the war for freedom and independence of Ukraine and the entire free world continues, so he decided to tell his story. The doors of the International Legion have always been and remain open to Ukrainians. This fact ultimately determined Dexter's future path.

The volunteer made the decision to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine consciously. He was looking for a unit where he could be as effective as possible and could use his skills and qualities:

- These include working with foreigners and, of course, working with technology. Many people now associate technology in the military primarily with unmanned aerial vehicles. So the result of my search was predictable.

Now Dexter is serving in the UAV (drones) unit of the 4th International Legion for Defence of Ukraine, which trains foreign volunteers:

- My responsibilities include the technological aspect. Since we primarily train infantry, we introduce UAVs to soldiers in two roles: as a tool that can help and as a threat that needs to be countered.

Dexter teaches the soldiers how to interact with UAV units, adjacent teams, and how to act under attack from enemy drones: bombers, FPVs, and others. Sometimes there are funny situations. After all, the legionnaire's task is not just to familiarize the cadets with the theory, but to develop the correct lightning-fast reactions at the level of reflexes. A training pyrotechnic grenade can come from the sky not only during training, when everyone has agreed on everything and can expect a threat, but also on the way to the dining room or to the toilet. The enemy has no restraints or rules and will not warn you of an attack. If the guys are outraged, it is usually in a friendly way, because they understand why it is necessary.

- We strive to build a holistic, high-quality training process for recruits who go to war, emphasizes Dexter. That is, there is a clear understanding that these people, coming to us, will eventually go to the war that exists in Ukraine, which is very bloody. Accordingly, we have to provide them with the abilities and skills that will give them the best possible chance of staying alive and healthy, and of being successful in what they do. We have our own team and a counter-team that works for a conventional enemy. The opposing side has the task of preventing the recruits from accomplishing the mission. The assisting team plays the role of an adjacent UAV unit. Both are equally important. The infantryman must be able to use the UAV support when moving into position, communicate skillfully via radio with those with “eyes”, effectively use intelligence information and coordinate with others, taking into account all possible factors.

The pedagogical process is not limited to technological aspects and is complex and multifaceted in itself:

- Our training is quite intensive. On the one hand, we train them physically, and on the other hand, the material can be somewhat complicated, especially in the technological part. It's not an easy task to master the material under such intense physical activity. We select people who are much better versed in modern technologies and whose experience can be used more intensively. On the one hand, they help train others. On the other hand, we, as instructors, try to give feedback about the person so that the recruit feels as good as possible in the unit he or she will be assigned to and is given tasks in which he or she can be effective. People in their 20s and people with significant prior knowledge and life experience have different capabilities to perceive different material and perform different tasks. That is why we do our best to ensure that after training and with appropriate recommendations, the legionnaire has the best possible tasks of the appropriate nature in the unit that he will be able to perform, even with a reserve, in the situation of real combat operations.

Dexter joined the army as a result of a balanced decision, with a clear understanding of what he was doing and why. He is a man who, whether in work, business or military service, knows how to clearly formulate a goal and achieve it. A legionnaire does not know what unnecessary movements or unfinished business are. And now his goal is clearer than ever:

- We have to end this war so that we know our children will be safe.