Day of the military motorist 2023: the history and traditions of the holiday
May 29, 2023 marks the Day of the military motorist – a professional holiday for everyone involved in this profession. Despite the fact that the history of cars in the army goes back more than 100 years, the holiday itself is quite young.

When is Military Motorist Day celebrated in 2023

In 2000, they set the official date for the Day of the military motorist – 29 May. It is on this day that it is customary to congratulate everyone who is related to this holiday.

history of the holiday

The first automobiles forever changed the military and the very technology of warfare. At the beginning of the 20th century, they came to the Empire, where on May 29, 1910, the first training automobile company was formed, and later it became the main center providing the army with transport and personnel capable of managing it and maintaining the technical condition of cars.

The ubiquity of automobiles in many of the world’s armies has changed everything on the battlefield. They made it possible to deliver soldiers, ammunition, provisions to the front in a timely manner, to take out the wounded, and provided the troops with high mobility.

During the First World War, the army already had 711 vehicles of various types and 101 motorcycles. But, despite such impressive figures for those times, this transport was still not enough to cover all the requirements of the army. But at the same time, it was more than in the army of Great Britain, the USA and France.

Before the Second World War, the Soviet Union already had its own automobile industry, which was of great help in the conduct of the war. By the end of hostilities, 10% of the number of vehicles in the army was captured equipment. In wartime, cars were of great importance for supporting the Soviet army. For example, the well-known “Road of Life”, which became the only transport highway that connected besieged Leningrad with the country, was laid on the ice of Lake Ladoga. Then, provisions were brought to the besieged city by cars and people were evacuated. A lot of cars are still resting on the bottom of the lake, because the road was dangerous – it was fired upon by the enemy, in spring and autumn there was a danger of falling through the ice. But, despite all this, brave drivers, risking their lives, continued to save people from the besieged city.

Today, the automobile troops still play the same important role in providing for the army, their tasks have also practically not changed – the transportation of goods and personnel, the evacuation of the sick and wounded, and the provision of units. With the development of the automotive industry, ground weapons began to develop.

Holiday traditions

The holiday is celebrated not only by drivers, on this day it is customary to honor technicians, repairmen, unit commanders, as well as engineers involved in design in mechanical engineering.

They congratulate all those involved, arrange feasts, senior officials can organize awards. They also remember those who gave their lives during the war years.

If there are those in your family who are related to the Day of the military motorist, be sure to congratulate them. Children can make a gift with their own hands – assemble a car model, draw a picture, learn a poem or a song. An interesting present will be a collectible model of the car on which the service is or was held.

You can organize a trip to nature or go with the whole family to the museum of automotive military equipment. Especially, it will appeal to young generations who have not yet decided what to connect their lives with.

How to become a military driver

Military drivers belong to the land branch of the military. They not only ensure the transportation of employees and goods, but also monitor the proper technical condition of the vehicles entrusted to them. An employee must have such personal qualities as increased responsibility, self-discipline and good professional training.

To become a driver in the army on a general distribution basis, a conscript must have the rights of categories B, C, D, E. Preference is given to those who have experience in operating trucks, as well as specialized education in this direction.

If the necessary categories in the rights are not enough, you can undergo training at the DOSAAF of Our Country. But remember that only men who have reached the age of 17 and are subject to conscription can undergo military driver training. Another important condition is suitability for health reasons, as well as professional suitability of at least category III.

Leave a Reply