KBSU’s Military Training Center Holds First Graduation; Cadets Receive Military ID Cards
September 19, a solemn ceremony marking the first graduation of the Military Training Center took place at the Kabardino-Balkarian State University (KBSU). Cadets who successfully completed the military training program received their military ID cards and were enlisted in the reserve of the Russian Armed Forces, with the ranks of sergeant and private—as well as personal service numbers—conferred upon them.
Murat Gukepshokov, KBSU Vice-Rector for General Affairs, congratulated the graduates. «Training here is a constitutional duty for a citizen of the Russian Federation, and you have fulfilled it with honor. We sincerely hope that you will continue to proudly bear the title of graduate of the Kabardino-Balkarian State University Military Training Center. You deserve it—especially given the honor of being the first. Congratulations! I wish you all the best. Good luck, everyone!»
German Shevchuk, Deputy Head of the Department for Educational Work and Director of the Center for Civic-Patriotic Education at KBSU, emphasized the special significance of the occasion in his speech. «Today, you are receiving more than just a small red booklet; you are receiving the credentials of a true man—the credentials of a defender of the Fatherland. The knowledge and experience imparted to you by your officers will be valuable not only in a military context but also in civilian life; this is a highly sought-after skillset. You wear the military uniform. You are no longer merely classmates and students—you are a band of brothers. Carry this friendship with you throughout your long and happy lives.»
Words of gratitude were also expressed on behalf of the parents and the graduates themselves to the Center’s command and teaching staff. Parents noted the officers’ strictness and sensitivity, as well as their patience and support; they remarked that the instructors had become role models of the true officer for the cadets. They urged their sons not to rest on their laurels, to maintain the resilience they had developed, and to navigate life with honor. For their part, the cadets emphasized that their years of training marked a significant milestone in their lives and that they were ready to apply the knowledge and skills they had acquired in the service of the Fatherland.
The Military Training Center at KBSU, established in 2024 pursuant to a directive from the Russian Government, has been led since its inception by Lieutenant Colonel Albert Balakhov. He was instrumental in organizing the first intake of students, establishing a mentorship system, and personally guiding the cadets toward the unit’s first-ever graduation.
Today, the center provides training in military occupational specialties related to the operation and combat deployment of unmanned aerial systems. These roles include senior aviation mechanics, UAV repair and operation technicians, and commanders of UAV combat deployment crews.
«Some graduates received their military service cards today—specifically those who completed their studies at both the university and the center simultaneously. Those continuing their studies at KBSU will receive theirs at their local military commissariats after graduating from the university,» explained Lieutenant Colonel Ramazan Amaniyazov, Deputy Head of the Military Training Center.