Valery Marchenkov

He was born into a family of forestry workers in Osinovka, Monastyrshchinsky District, Smolensk Oblast on 5 July 1947. He worked in construction for a year after graduating from school. He has served in the Soviet Army since 1966. He graduated from the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School in 1970. From 1970 to 1978, he served in the 2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division. He graduated from the Frunze Military Academy in 1981. From 1981 he served in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany as commander of the 240th motorized rifle regiment, in 1984–1986, commander of the 6th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade. He graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff in 1988. From 1988 to 1992, he commanded the 2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division, and from 1992, he was First Deputy Army Commander.