Personnel Russian Ground Forces

a russian soldier @ checkpoint in kosovo in 2001.



russian soldiers on parade in saint petersburg in 2014.



new russian ratnik (ex. barmitsa ) suit on display @ presentation in 2011.

in 2006, ground forces included estimated total of 395,000 persons, including approximately 190,000 conscripts , 35,000 personnel of airborne forces (vdv). can compared estimated 670,000, 210,000 conscripts, in 1995–96. these numbers should treated caution, however, due difficulty outside russia make accurate assessments, , confusion within general staff on numbers of conscripts within force.

the ground forces began existence in 1992, inheriting soviet military manpower system practically unchanged, though in state of rapid decay. soviet ground forces traditionally manned through terms of conscription, had been reduced in 1967 3 2 years. system administered through thousands of military commissariats (russian: военный комиссариат, военкомат [voyenkomat]) located throughout soviet union. between january , may of each year, every young soviet male citizen required report local voyenkomat assessment military service, following summons based on lists every school , employer in area.

the voyenkomat worked quotas sent out department of general staff, listing how many young men required each service , branch of armed forces. (since fall of soviet union, draft evasion has skyrocketed; officials regularly bemoan ten or percent appear when summoned.) new conscripts picked officer future unit , sent train across country. on arrival, begin young soldiers course, , become part of system of senior rule, known dedovshchina, literally rule grandfathers. there small number of professional non-commissioned officers (ncos), ncos conscripts sent on short courses prepare them section commanders , platoon sergeants positions. these conscript ncos supplemented praporshchik warrant officers, positions created in 1960s support increased variety of skills required modern weapons.

the soviet army s officer-to-soldier ratio extremely top-heavy, partially in order compensate relatively low education level of military manpower base , absence of professional ncos. following world war ii , great expansion of officer education, officers became product of four-to-five-year higher military colleges. in armies, newly commissioned officers become platoon leaders, having accept responsibility soldiers welfare , training (with exceptions noted above). young officers in soviet army units worked round clock, receiving 3 days off per month. annual vacations under threat if deficiencies emerged within unit, , pressure created enormous stress. towards end of soviet union, led decline in morale amongst young officers.

in 2000s, many junior officers did not wish serve—in 2002, more half officers left forces did early. morale low, among other reasons because postings entirely in hands of immediate superiors , personnel department. without having account actions, can choose promote or not promote him, send him moscow or godforsaken post on chinese border.

there little available information on current status of women, not conscripted, in ground forces. according bbc, there 90,000 women in russian army in 2002, though estimates on numbers of women across entire russian armed forces in 2000 ranged 115,000 160,000. women serve in support roles, commonly in fields of nursing, communications, , engineering. officers wives have become contract service personnel.

contract soldiers

from small beginnings in 1990s, employment of contract soldiers (kontraktniki) has grown within ground forces, though many have been of poor quality (wives of officers no other prospective employment, example). in december 2005, sergei ivanov, minister of defence, proposed that—in addition numerous enlisted contract soldiers—all sergeants should become professional, raise number of professional soldiers , non-commissioned officers in armed forces overall approximately 140,000 in 2008. current programme allows 26,000 posts professional sergeants.

the cia reported in world factbook 30 percent of russian army personnel contract servicemen @ end of 2005, , that, of may 2006, 178,000 contract servicemen serving in ground forces , navy. planning calls volunteer servicemen compose 70 percent of armed forces 2010, remaining servicemen consisting of conscripts. @ end of 2005, ground forces had 40 all-volunteer constant readiness units, 20 constant readiness units formed in 2006. these cia figures can set against iiss data, reports @ end of 2004, number of contracts being signed in moscow military district 17 percent of target figure; in north caucasus, 45 percent; , in volga-ural, 25 percent.

whatever number of contract soldiers, commentators such alexander goltz pessimistic many more combat ready units result, senior officers see no difference between professional ncos, ... versus conscripts have been drilled in training schools less 6 months. such sergeants have neither knowledge nor experience can them win authority [in] barracks. defence minister sergey ivanov underlined in-barracks discipline situation, after years of attempted professionalisation, when releasing official injury figures 2002. 531 men had died on duty result of accidents , crimes, , 20,000 had been wounded (the numbers apparently not including suicides). according ivanov, accident rate not falling . 2 of every 7 conscripts become addicted drugs , alcohol while serving terms, , further 1 in twenty suffer homosexual rape, according 2005 reports.

part of reason feeling between contract servicemen, conscripts, , officers.

there no relationship of mutual respect between leaders , led , difficult see how professional army can created without one...at moment [2002] officers despise contract servicemen more conscripts. contract soldiers serving in chechnya , other hot spots called mercenaries , marauders senior officers.