Captain Arsen Karapetyan is the commander of the Red Berets regiment.
He has been a part of the Red Berets regiment since 1995. He was conscripted to serve in the National Security Service’s Department of Special Military Units, and worked in the Special Combat Operations Unit from 1998 until 2008. Then, he served as part of the Armenian Border Guard, where he worked until 2020.
“Ever since I was 15, I participated in the war, and I am defending my family and country to this day. That is my sacred responsibility,” Arsen Karapetyan said.
Until they go to the frontlines, volunteers train to prepare for the frontlines. “We are providing our volunteers with the knowledge we gained in the Department of Special Military Units since 1995. We are working to prepare our boys as much as possible so that we can avoid suffering losses. That is our main concern. Our goal has always been to carry out our duties, and until those duties have been completed, we will not return home. We are educating them and conducting training. We are doing everything to prepare our boys. We are mentally preparing them for the war. We are doing everything to make sure that our boys are fine, to make sure that our fight was not in vain, and to avoid suffering losses or injuries. Thank God, we have not had any as of today. I consider small things to be normal. Thank God that the boys are following me. They trust me and they’re brave. I do not see any problems.”
Many of the volunteers are not prepared to fight, so these trainings are especially helping them. “There are people who are prepared for everything because of their patriotism, but they do not realize where they are going. That is why we are doing this. We go to the frontlines and come back. We make every effort and do everything to make sure that our boys are prepared. Our homeland is ours and it always will be; there is no alternative. Any alternatives are not acceptable to us. This is our land. Nothing will come in our way. If the entire Islamic world tries to bother us, it doesn’t matter; we are the ones who will control our land. We are strong when we are united, of course. If my boys understand everything with just one look… there are times when they don’t even let me finish. They have been able to understand everything over the past ten days. They are with me. They are ready to fight for the Motherland until their last breath.”
Arsen Karapetyan also believes that it is important that the volunteers have good fighting spirits. “Our soldiers and volunteers are most inspired by the commanders who are always next to them, especially at the frontlines. I tell everyone that, if your lives are not important to you, then they are important to me, and I don’t want anything to happen to any of you. I don’t even want anyone to get slightly injured.”
Ami Chichakyan
