A Day with Kyrgyzstan's National Guard Honor Guard

Seven in the morning. Eight statuesque young men in military uniforms march through the sleepy center of Bishkek. Soon, as the city comes alive, people will stop near them, take photos with their phones, and watch their every movement and gesture. But this happens after the young men completely transform in a special room within the National Historical Museum. They don the white shirts with epaulets, peaked caps, and gleaming chrome boots, then take turns stepping out to the main flag of the country to stand guard.

For passersby, the changing of the guard is a few beautiful minutes. For the guardsmen, it is an entire day, from the "Reveille" command at six in the morning until their return to the barracks late in the evening. We spent this day with them. The barracks awaken instantly. At six in the morning, no one is asleep in the barracks. The "Reveille" command shatters the silence, instantly replaced by dozens of sounds and movements. Soldiers throw off their blankets, make their beds, wash up, and pull on their uniforms. Moments ago, peace reigned here; now, the large room functions as a single, well-oiled machine. There's no time to linger, lie in for "five more minutes," or thoughtfully choose what to wear. The morning is scheduled to the minute.

An old legend is associated with the army reveille: supposedly, a soldier must get dressed before a match burns out. They dismiss this here. "I think that's from previous times. It's not like that now. It's more of a mockery of the personnel. Ten minutes is quite enough to get ready and go out for formation," says senior lieutenant Adil Bakirov, deputy company commander for personnel.

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I think that's from previous times. It's not like that now. It's more of a mockery of the personnel. Ten minutes is quite enough to get ready and go out for formation.

At 06:10, the drill ground is full. Straight rows, serious faces, identical uniforms. Most soldiers recently sat in school or university classrooms. Now, their morning begins not with a phone alarm and a cup of coffee, but with a short command and formation. Among the very young faces, Daniyar Ailchinov stands out. He is 24 years old, and his path to the National Guard is quite atypical. Daniyar graduated from the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University with a degree in International Relations and studied in the master's program at the law faculty of Sapienza University of Rome. Rome, an ancient European university, international relations, and suddenly barracks, drill grounds, and reveille at six in the morning. It seems the army doesn't quite fit this biography. But Daniyar decided to serve: he believes it's easier to start a career in public service, which he dreams of, after the army – there are certain benefits. The most difficult thing for the future civil servant was not the drill, not the discipline, and not even the hours on guard duty. "The hardest part at first was getting up early," Daniyar admits, laughing.

On the drill ground, exercises begin. No one puts on a show for the journalists. Everything proceeds as usual: running, warm-up, exercises. Commands are barely heard – everyone knows what to do. The young men move quickly, with focus, without talking. Sleep is completely left behind in the barracks.

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The hardest part at first was getting up early.