I think it was pretty obvious what they meant.

An old friend of mine has recently finished his term in the Russian military. According to his words explaining his own experience, and things he heard during military exercises from guys from other parts of the country, most soldiers are being trained not to defend their country, but to do three things: paint walls, wash their clothes, and clean up the premises.

It's no wonder you can mistake a passenger airplane for a military aircraft after such a stimulating experience.