MPs to discuss return to two-year service in 2023Against the background of the special operation, State Duma deputies raised the issue of increasing military service to two years.
The Kremlin says that the Ministry of Defense should solve these issues. What will be the term of service in the army in 2023, as well as how the conditions for recruits have changed — in the material of Izvestia.
Will they return two years of service in the army in 2023
Yuri Shvytkin, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense, announced on November 3 that he would return to two-year service against the background of his own. According to him, this is due to the need to securely consolidate the knowledge gained during the training. The idea was supported by the State Duma deputy from Crimea Mikhail Sheremet. He did not rule out that the relevant initiative could be submitted to the State Duma deputies for consideration.
However, the Federation Council questioned the need to return to a two-year system. According to the head of the SF Committee on Constitutional legislation and state Construction Andrei Klishas, the number of contract soldiers affects the combat capability of the army. And an increase in conscription service life is unlikely to significantly affect the quality of troops.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Zurab Javakhadze
Image source: iz.ru
Both senators and the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov said that the opinion of the head of the Ministry of Defense will be decisive about the term of service in 2023. At the same time, there were no comments from the Ministry of Defense.
How long does military service last in 2022
Currently, the service life in the army is 12 months for all branches of the armed forces. The draft is held twice a year: from April 1 to July 15 and from October 1 to December 31. For the first three months, recruits are trained, and then sent to duty stations. Conscripts serve on the territory of Russia. As emphasized in the Ministry of Defense, the recruits of the autumn draft-2022 will not be sent to the zone of self-defense or serve in the newly annexed territories. At the same time, conscripts have the right to conclude a contract with the Ministry of Defense after three months of training. Russians who have graduated from military centers at universities can also complete a three-year contract service. Graduates of the "military departments" with the assignment of an officer rank are enrolled in the reserve.
Recall that on October 24, United Russia submitted to the State Duma a bill on the registration of military service in the army for admission to universities and colleges. According to the bill, conscripts will be awarded additional points for admission to universities and colleges in all training programs, including master's degree.
When in Russia the term of service in the army was reduced to a year
The service life in the Russian army was reduced from two to one year in 2008, in parallel with this, the troops were reoriented to a contractual method of recruitment. A transitional period was established, and some of the conscripts served 18 months from 2007 to 2008.
During the military reform in the country, the total number of the army has decreased to 1 million people, while the proportion of conscripted soldiers has decreased, and the number of contract soldiers has increased.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Zurab Javakhadze
Image source: iz.ru
The transition to the voluntary (contract) principle of recruiting the Russian Army has been discussed since the early 1990s. In 1992, he was supported by the Supreme Council and the President of the Russian Federation, but the Ministry of Defense insisted on maintaining conscription service. As a result, in 2003, it was decided to recruit contractors for individual units and branches of the armed forces, as well as border services. It was decided to leave the draft for the internal troops, but to shorten the service life.
When did an alternative civil service appear in Russia
The right to alternative civil service was enshrined in the Russian Constitution in 1993. A citizen could choose such a service on the basis of peacemaking, philosophical, moral and ethical, political or religious beliefs. Today, the term of alternative service is 18 months in civilian positions in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and 21 months in all other cases.
For the first time in Russia, conscripts had such an opportunity in 1917. Then Russia, along with Great Britain and Denmark, became one of the first countries to recognize the right of its citizens to conscientious objection to military service. Alternative service was cancelled in 1939 amid the outbreak of World War II.
How they served in the Russian Army in different years
The regular conscription army in Russia arose under Peter I. Peasants, burghers and other rural estates were called up for service, while the service was lifelong. Since 1874, the entire male population of the country over the age of 21 has been subject to conscription. The service lasted 15 years, of which 6 years had to be spent in the active army and 9 years in reserve. Some of the troops were regular, some remained in the militia (in reserve, which was involved only for the period of active hostilities). The draft began on November 1 and ended on December 15. In Siberia, the draft lasts longer: from October 15 to December 31. Separately, it was stipulated that these rules apply for peacetime, and in the event of war, soldiers remain on the ground "as long as the state needs require it."
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Korotaev
Image source: iz.ru
By the beginning of the XX century, the service life in the Land Forces was 3 or 4 years, and in the Navy — 5 years. For students, time in the army was reduced to 2 years. Two years in the Ground Forces and 3 years in the Navy, Soviet soldiers have served since 1967. In the presence of higher education, the service was reduced to 1 and 2 years, respectively. The draft was conducted twice a year, in May-June and in November-December. In 1993, the service life was reduced to 1.5 years, but in 1996, against the background of the war in Chechnya, it was again increased to 2 years.
Maria Shaipova
