The start of the full-scale war changed the lives of many Ukrainians. Some people were forced to leave their homes and endure evacuation; some Ukrainians set themselves the goal of helping on the civilian front by supporting the volunteer movement, and some, without any hesitation, joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Nikita Zaichuk was among those ready to sacrifice their lives for the future of Ukraine. Now he works as a deminer in our demining department.
The war forced him to leave his normal life and family to join the Armed Forces and defend the country from the enemy. Nikita served as a machine gunner in the 25th Assault Brigade, and later he became the commander of an assault group. He participated in battles in the Kreminna-Lyman direction, as well as in Kupiansk district, Kharkiv region, and Svatove district, Luhansk region.
About Career Change
Before being deployed to the combat zone, Nikita had spent a month and a half training in the United Kingdom, where he was introduced to the basics of demining. It was during this training that he realized it was not only an important military discipline but also a vital component in civilian life. The knowledge and skills acquired during the training laid the foundation for his future career. He had been working as a store manager for 16 years prior to his military service. But he decided to drastically change his career path. When asked why he chose to become a deminer, Nikita replied, “After my discharge from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, I realized that there is a lot of necessary work to be done, including demining, rescue operations, and so on. I wanted to be useful – if not on the battlefield, then in civilian life.” Upon completion of his military service, Nikita started looking for a job in these fields and eventually joined NIBULON.
About Demining Training at NIBULON
“Joining NIBULON, I went on a training course on operating the specialized GCS-200 unmanned demining platform with remote control, as well as a special course for mechanics conducted by representatives of Global Clearance Solutions.” Nikita also mentioned regular training courses on first aid provided by paramedics. Regarding the training process, Nikita says, “I really liked that the training was extremely detailed. Each stage of the training was explained step by step. Even if someone didn’t understand the information, the lecture was not over until all participants had absorbed the necessary information.” Now, Nikita himself is one of the lecturers in non-technical survey of territories.
Tips for Communicating with Military Personnel
NIBULON takes care of its employees and their well-being, providing a comfortable and supportive environment to ensure maximum productivity. Communication is one of the key elements in this environment. Improving communication skills when interacting with veterans is a vital step in the company’s development and in achieving harmony within the team. NIBULON strives to ensure that every employee can adapt to various communication styles, be sensitive to the needs of others, and ensure effective mutual understanding in any situation. To avoid misunderstandings and improve communication, we turn to our Heroes for advice. Such guidance helps us better understand their world view, needs, and expectations, as well as learn how to foster an effective dialogue. Here are some tips Nikita shared with us: “I don’t recommend asking veterans the following questions: ‘When did you return?’, ‘What did you do there?’, ‘What did you see?’, or ‘Do you have dreams about it?’ It’s crucial to understand that the situations they face can be very different. And one more thing: communication, communication, and more communication! I know many guys who feel a lack of interaction after their return; this makes them withdrawn and negatively affects their mental health.” Therefore, it is crucial to respect personal boundaries of veterans, avoid overly personal questions, and offer support through continuous communication, which helps them adapt and prevents isolation.
We would remind you that in August, NIBULON started an important cooperation with Veteran Hub to support the reintegration of veterans into civilian life. This project focuses on fostering cooperation with veterans. Like our articles, it helps the company better understand their experiences and needs. It also contributes to developing appropriate internal policies and corporate culture for employees with military experience. That’s why we continue our series of articles “Heroes Among Us”, highlighting the important process of integrating veterans into the workplace.
Read the first publication from the “Heroes Among Us” series at the link.
