On May 24, the first "Zarnitza" game (Russian version of Forpost Game) in the history of Perm Engines took place. More than a hundred employees of UEC-Perm Engines (part of the Rostec United Engine Corporation, a member of Union of Machine Engineers of Russia) and students of the Polytechnic University (PNRPU), Aviation technical school (PAT), the College of Industrial and Information Technologies (PTPIT) gathered at the recreation facility "Svyazist" to measure steady of hand and cunning of mind, to stick together and contest the victory.
Twelve teams joined in the contest. Three of them were formed out of students. They are Aerokos (PNRPU), Vzlyot (PAT), and Plamennyi Motor (PTPIT). At the facility nine teams were nailed together, i.e. 43 rota (workshop 43), 19 skorost’ (combined team of SKO, workshops 19, KOID), Plamya (workshop 51), Slony (workshop 53), Soldaty udachi (UMO), "AK 47" (workshop 10), Soldaty (combined team of workshops 60, 61,67), Dvigatel’ pobedy (CAP), Kto po zvaniyu (workshop 38).
For students, joint competitions have become an excellent opportunity for direct, informal communication with future colleagues. And for all of them Zarnitza game became not just an ordinary activity dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory, but a reminder that loving the Motherland means being ready to defend it.
"This is the first time we are holding this event and we are no less worried than the participants. We’d most like if everything go great. We tried to organize the game at a high level. Therefore we have arranged field rations and hot meals for the players – a mobile kitchen trail that will prepare buckwheat cereal with meat and hot tea. The main thing is that the guys have a great competitive spirit and desire to spend time together as a team. I wish everyone success! May the strongest win!" said Stella Emir-Veli, Head of the Department of Company Culture and Youth Policy at UEC-Perm Engines.
The teams had to overcome 20 stages of a combined assault course, i.e. basic and supplementary military training, where strength, speed, agility, intelligence and other teambuilding skills were tested.
Among other things the participants have to get a fire to burn on a windswept beach, detect and deactivate mines, speed tie a hitch and a figure eight knots, put on and take off a splash suit in two minutes, make at least 5 targets using gun, and pilot an UAV through an air corridor. One of the most difficult stage is the crawl way. Crawling under a low–strung cord without hitting it, and even dragging a heavy box behind you, that is the task not for whimps. The tasks as Zip Line stretched over the water, forced landing from a truck and laser tag were equal in difficulty.
The organizers also included intellectual contests into the event: "encryption", "semaphore", "radio communication", "azimuth", "shoulder straps", for which it was necessary to know the Morse code and semaphore alphabet, have a good understanding of compass principle, have an outstanding associative thinking and understand the ranks and shoulder straps of different branches of arms. Also such activities as a drill practice, a medical competition, gun assembly and disassembly, and injured person evacuation with the landing place preparation for an ambulance helicopter took place.
The competition was completed by a tactical game named "Zarnitza", in which all participants simultaneously sought for artefacts (cases with information) and tore the chevrons off the opponents. One point was awarded for a case, and half a point was awarded for a chevron (two per player). The teams chose different tactics: some of them were "pacific» and got only cases. The other, on the contrary, preferred «close fight». There were also those who lied in wait for the teams returning with artefacts to the arbiter and "intercepted" the loot. Such tactical maneuver was not prohibited. À la guerre comme à la guerre.
Finally, all the points are counted, all the ends are marked and the arbiter Alexey Ganakov names first three medallists: "The winner of the contest was the team "19 skorost’", the second best was "Kto po zvaniyu", the third place was taken by the team "Plamya".
Temperamental outburst, congratulations and sincere joy for everyone – such an atmosphere prevails for a long time at the Svyazist recreation facility.
Konstantin Myshkin, the captain of the winner team, commented on the result: "The top position was a cheerful surprise for us. We didn't train specifically for this contest. Some of the guys did military service, some participated in similar events. We aimed just to have fun, to experience positive emotions during this game."
To the question "will you participate in Zarnitza next year?" the guys simultaneously answered: "For sure, and we will prepare for the contest more properly!"
