The growing geopolitical tension in the region caused the Russian leadership to start talking seriously for the first time in many years about modernizing the army of reservists, more precisely, about creating a fundamentally new management institution specializing in studying and organizing the country's mobilization potential. Now it is still difficult to talk about the actual timing of the project. Yes, a relevant law has been adopted and a presidential decree has been published. But the flywheel of the system is just gaining momentum.
Many experts, as well as ordinary citizens, are already interested in the nuances of this program. And the main question raised at all levels is, of course, the age of reservists in the Russian army. According to military analysts, speculation on this topic in the media led to the fact that objective information was lost against the general background of the given picture of the day. As a result, there was an urgent need for an explanatory conversation with an accentuatedby placing all the dots over the "i".
Formation of the army of reservists: potential applicants
According to the decree of the President, the following categories of citizens are obligatory to be called up for military training:
- persons transferred to the reserve of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation;
- former university students who underwent comprehensive training at military departments and received officer ranks;
- men who did not serve in the Russian army due to exemption from conscription;
- women with a military speci alty;
- persons who had a deferment at the time of the call, as well as those who received the right to perform alternative civilian service;
- military personnel dismissed without registration.
In addition, a separate provision of the decree defines the maximum age until which reservists will be recruited in Russia - 60 years.
The purpose of the reorganization of the training system for reservists
The reform launched last year has far-reaching plans. The primary task is to eliminate the bureaucratic confusion inherent in the modern Russian army, and in the future - to turn the reservists into a kind of universal soldier capable of getting into service in a matter of hours without losing the functionality and controllability of units.
But the ambitions of the leadership of the General Staff are not limited to this.
The main idea is to bring the reserve troops to a new stage of evolution: to establish between the active combat formations andthe rear services have such a level of understanding at which, in the event of the start of real hostilities, they will not have to deal with the reprofiling of personnel. Simply put, the policy of educating a “multi-vector” soldier and a specialist officer will be cultivated at military training camps, equally prepared both for solving purely combat missions and for performing functions inherent in civilian law enforcement agencies.
Since the “universalization” of a person implies a long learning process, there are already tough discussions in the Presidential Administration, in the Government and in both houses of Parliament about what the average age of reservists in the Russian army should be in 10-15 years: 20-34 years, as in most Western countries, or 30-45.
Military training: exercises or combat experience?
The military training program is not a constant. Even within one calendar year, completely different training algorithms can be drawn up for the same types of troops.
The situation in the world is constantly changing, so it would be wrong to build exercises according to the same pattern. And the age of the reservists in the Russian army, of course, plays a role. People who have grown accustomed to the hardships and hardships of military service are far from always able to fulfill the standard the first time, which was specially calculated for the physical capabilities of a he althy twenty-year-old guy. And this is another reason to think about whether to start rejuvenating the armyreservists.
Military exercises that were once held in the USSR were as close as possible to the conditions of warfare and fully reflected the degree of training of personnel. That experience, of course, has long been taken as a basis in our army (especially since the age of reservists in Russia allows us to talk about the unlost "genetic memory" regarding military dedication and TRP standards). However, it is already 2015, the fee program needs to be brought closer to the realities of today.
Types and timing of military training
According to the current charter of military service and the regulatory documents that govern the procedure for conducting military training, there are several types of combat training meetings:
- managing staff gatherings (with a thematic focus on the process of managing departments);
- training;
- check;
- Attributed.
In the case of reservists, we are talking about training camps organized to restore previously acquired skills (or to familiarize those liable for military service with the rules of service). Such events, as a rule, are of a combined nature, that is, their theoretical part is supplemented by practice.
Despite the fact that the age of reservists in the Russian army is defined in a fairly wide range (from 20 to 60 years), the time for the training camp is indicated by the current decree in the interval of only two months. Some analysts believe that this is the wrong approach, because the perception of the sameinformation by people of different age categories is qualitatively different.
Age of reservists: who will be called up and under what conditions?
The principle of completing combat training formations consisting of reservists is quite simple. Responsible officers of the military registration and enlistment offices select individuals according to three basic criteria: the presence / absence of experience in military service, the presence / absence of he alth problems and the number of full years. However, they won’t treat everyone with the same brush.
You need to understand that the reform of the “arming system” of reservists implies the implementation of two scenarios: the professional training of ideological partisans and the registration, and in fact - for military service, of paid volunteers.
The age of reservists in the Russian army, as mentioned above, is set at 20-60 years. However, for those wishing to become part of the paid mobilization rear, other rules will apply, or rather, they already operate. In particular, soldiers and ensigns over 42 years old who are in reserve, as well as officers who are 47-57 years old (47 for junior officers, 52 for middle command level, 57 for senior army leadership) will not be able to sign a contract with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.).
Personnel and reserve officers: their role in creating a second front
Reservist on contract is a common occurrence for the Armed Forces of developed countries. From now on, paid patriots will be in Russia. By the way, along with the functional reorganization of the volunteer paramilitary movement,the government is also implementing the reform of the classical army. Thus, at the initiative of the executive branch, proposals were submitted to the State Duma to amend certain articles of the law on military service. As a result, the deputies, having read the opinion of the relevant ministers, voted to extend the term for the servicemen in the ranks by 5 years.
Now that the age of reservists for the Russian army is set based on the needs of the Armed Forces, personnel officers have been allowed to serve longer. And there is logic in this: why remove shoulder straps from a 60-year-old colonel, if he can take reservists under his command and pass on invaluable experience to them?
Professional army of reservists: the experience of foreign countries
The bureaucracy and the incompetence of the General Staff are the two worst enemies of any army. Life shows that relying on rapid reaction forces is justified today more than ever.
Contract volunteers serving in the US Armed Forces cannot be under 20 and over 39 years of age. This moment is fixed by law. Young people, men and women in their prime, are ready to help their country at the first call and complete the task with maximum efficiency. Perhaps the age of reservists in Russia will also be lowered over time, because experience is experience, and years take their toll. What if youth is the secret to the success of the overseas army?
Social protection for reservists
The state is obliged to take care of its defenders. This postulate does not raise the slightest doubt. Now it is extremely important to understand what privileges domestic reservists are en titled to: are they guaranteed social benefits, salary increases, and so on.
By the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, contract partisans are assigned their jobs (salaries are charged in full even during military training). Also to all volunteers from mob. reserve, a service salary is set (the amount varies depending on the rank, length of service until the moment of transfer to the reserve, etc.).
Additional benefits apply to the educational process: retraining and advanced training - at the expense of the budget. True, the bonus program is slightly spoiled by the established age limit for reservists in the Russian army (you can find out what restrictions apply on the official website of the RF Ministry of Defense).
Right not to participate in military training
Ignoring military dues by contractors is not allowed (the only good reason is the state of he alth). Those who are not paid volunteer status may not participate in such events if:
- training completed within the last three years;
- they are leading employees of strategic enterprises;
- their activities are related to teaching in universities;
- there are other (legitimate) grounds for obtaining a deferral.
The age of the reservists can serve as a kind of exemption from participation in military training. Who will be called this year? First of all, thosewho at the time of receipt of the summons will meet the age limit.
