The interaction of the army command and conscription bodies with the Cossacks in the preparation of young people for military service and the formation of the mobilization reserve of the country is now regulated by a special agreement.
It was signed by Deputy Chief of the General Staff Yevgeny Burdinsky and ataman of the All-Russian Cossack Society Nikolai Doluda. The latter, we note, is now officially part of the mobilization human reserve. The ataman has signed a corresponding contract, and now he will combine his main work with military field training and training sessions. As noted on this occasion in the All-Russian Cossack Society, the ataman "set an example of active entry into the mobilization reserve to all the Cossacks of Russia."
The special status of the ataman, of course, has been preserved. Moreover, under the terms of the contract, he was supplemented with the position of adviser to the chief of the Main Organizational and Mobilization Department of the General Staff. In this capacity, the ataman will be able to directly direct the activities of the Cossacks, who will be attracted to the mobile reserve. And also - to coordinate all issues related to the selection of candidates for reservists there. The same applies to working with conscripts.
Separately, the agreement stipulates the duty of the ataman to organize the interaction of military Cossack societies with the commanders of military districts and the Northern Fleet in order to attract Cossacks to the mobile reserve of the Armed Forces.
As for the military enlistment offices, their interaction with the Cossacks is organized in at least two directions. The first is in matters of keeping records of Cossacks who have signed contracts to stay in the mobile reserve. The second is during the preparation and conduct of conscription, as well as the direction of Cossacks for military service.
"It is expected that due to closer interaction of military Cossack societies with the leadership of military districts and commissariats, the issue of attracting Cossacks to events within the framework of the mobilisation and conscription will reach a new level," the All-Russian Cossack Society commented on the signing of an agreement with the General Staff.
I must say that the Cossacks always willingly joined the military service and closely interacted with the army command. It is no coincidence that when a few years ago in Russia they started forming combat army reserve personnel, this process began with the Southern Military District. Many Cossacks live on its territory. In addition, there was already a mobile reserve in the Southern Federal District - about 400 people. And the Rostov region was a kind of pioneer in working with such people.
Thus, the regional commissariat participated in an experiment on the introduction of a new system of recruiting troops by citizens who signed a contract to stay in the mobilization human reserve. The first such unit was a motorized rifle company of territorial troops. It was manned by Cossacks of the All-Great Don Army and was used quite effectively in various exercises.
Yuri Gavrilov