Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 654 NIBULON’s employees have already joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Having contributed to the defense of the state, some veterans are returning to civilian life. One of them is Mykhailo Fedotov, an ATO participant and veteran, who was awarded the Order “For Courage” of the 3rd class by the President. Mykhailo currently holds the position of a specialist in the department of security management. Mykhailo shared his thoughts on the difference between working life and service in the army, his way back to civilian life after 15 months in the most dangerous combat zones, the peculiarities of adaptation in the company, how to support, and what to pay attention to when communicating with former military personnel.
Work in the company vs Service in the army
“Working in a company, even if you are not a classic office worker, and serving in the army are completely different things. At NIBULON, I initially worked at the Transshipment Terminal, later I joined a newly created group of inspectors that monitored grain transportation by rail and prevented theft. I joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the first days of the full-scale invasion. Prior to this, I had participated in the ATO, as well as participated in annual training exercises with the 79th Air Assault Brigade.
A person unfamiliar with the specifics of security work might think it is identical to the duties of military personnel. But it is not so. The army is a separate institution with its own laws, regulations, and even a worldview. It’s not about multitasking. It’s about performing different roles simultaneously – being a teacher, an organizer, a manager, and even a psychologist. I served as a sergeant major in the 3rd Air Assault Battalion. I was responsible for live fire training of the personnel and had 50 people under my command. When I would receive orders from the senior officers, for example, to change the position or adjust the fire, I had to convey everything to the personnel and organize their work.
As in any team, in the army, all people are different. With different life experiences and characters. Therefore, there is no universal approach to subordinates. The only difference is that mistakes are unacceptable in the army, and losses are too heavy. Being in charge, even when you seem to have few people under your command, imposes a great responsibility. It is not enough to convey orders and information. It is necessary to do it so that the team acts as a single organism, without hitches or failures, giving 200%.”
About the return and adaptation period
“I was discharged from the army due to family reasons in June 2023. Before returning to work, I had not even thought about what I would be doing or whether I would be able to switch from the army to civilian work. For a soldier, the main thing is to come back alive. I did not plan anything globally after that.
Before my discharge, I called the manager. I asked, “Are you waiting for me?”, and the answer was “Of course, we are waiting!” That was important to me, and I decided to think about everything else later.
When I returned, it was difficult to adjust for a while. In the first month of the large-scale war, I participated in the defense of Mykolaiv, then we were transferred to Donetsk region – near Zarichne, Krasnyi Lyman. Those were 15 months spent in dangerous combat zones, getting your adrenaline pumping almost 24/7. And it was quiet at home. Literally. It was a very strong contrast. I understood that I needed to rest both mentally and physically, so I took a two-week vacation to spend time with my family. But on the other hand, such a sudden change of environment was also stressful.
I think the management also understood this, and that’s why I received an offer to work in the business trip format. I am currently responsible for security and safety at our branches. I am constantly on the move, busy, interacting with colleagues. Of course, adaptation is also an individual matter. Someone, on the contrary, needs comfortable, calm, I would say “greenhouse” conditions. But as it turned out, this is not my option at all. I am grateful to the management for their support and individual approach. It’s really important.”
About communication with former military personnel
“If we compare, for example, 2015 and 2024, I see a huge difference. Previously, people could ask not only strange but completely inappropriate questions: “Tell me how it was there?”, “How did you get injured?”, “Did you kill anyone?”, “Were you scared?”. Imagine if you were asked these questions, if you were reminded of this experience again, would you be able to answer immediately? Probably not.
Fortunately, that almost does not happen now. At least, I have not faced such situations. After all, the war has been going on for several years now. The topic of communication with the military is often raised. The level of people’s awareness has increased. Overall, the attitude towards the military has improved.
There is a lot of material now about what is appropriate to ask, what is not, how to establish contact, how not to cause aggression or a negative reaction, and how to support a veteran. All this information is available. There is nothing too complicated about it. Just put yourself in the person’s place and analyze whether you would be happy to be in their place? If you doubt whether your words or actions might be offensive, it is better to remain silent. Or simply sincerely express your thanks.”
In August, NIBULON started an important cooperation with Veteran Hub, a support network for soldiers and their families, aimed at implementing a project on the reintegration of veterans into civilian life after their return from military service. Our goal is to strengthen the professional skills of HR specialists and line managers involved in the processes of hiring and adaptation of employees, to improve mutual understanding between the NIBULON team and veterans to ensure a smooth, comfortable reintegration of military personnel into civilian life and the working environment of our company.
To bring attention to the needs of military personnel returning to civilian life and to understand them better, we will continue to share the truly inspiring stories of NIBULON’s employees. These are the stories of heroes who live and work among us.
