On Tuesday, the State Duma adopted in the third, final reading a bill introduced in July this year by the President of the Russian Federation and supported by the government of the country, changing the procedure for extending the maximum service life of senior officers.
According to this document, the head of state will be given the right to decide for how many years a military commander who has reached the maximum age limit should be left in the ranks. First of all, we are talking about officers with the rank of marshal, general of the army and admiral of the fleet, whose service, according to the current rules, must end at 65 years of age.
Strictly speaking, the head of state is still authorized to extend their army career. For someone - for a year, for someone - for two, for three... However, article 49 of the law "On Military Duty and military Service" states that in any case, such military personnel should be dismissed at the age of 70. With the adoption of amendments to the law, this restriction will be lifted.
It is clear that the new personnel practice will not affect all military leaders who have reached the age limit for service. The explanatory note to the bill says that by the decision of the President of the Russian Federation, it is possible to extend the contract "with the most experienced and highly qualified military personnel who have the military rank of Marshal of the Russian Federation, general of the army, admiral of the fleet." In other words, the president, if necessary, will allow senior military officials to serve as long as the country needs it. In particular, this applies to the Minister of Defense, his deputies with shoulder straps, commanders-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
According to Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense, such changes will have a positive impact on ensuring the country's defense and securing senior officers in military service who have extensive experience in it, have developed professionally important qualities, and are also able to fulfill their tasks in any given conditions.
Recall that now, according to the current legislation, the age limit for lieutenant generals, vice admirals, major generals and rear admirals is limited to 60 years. Colonels and captains of the 1st rank - 55th. Military personnel in another rank - 50 years. The question of their further service is decided with each individually.
Yuri Gavrilov
