The subject of reflections is special today. Special because it touches or once touched some readers directly. Namely, the famous reforms of the former Russian Defense Minister Serdyukov in the field of army recruitment. Those reforms that led to the closure of many military universities. The recruitment of the remainder has become a fiction. Boys who dreamed of becoming officers of the Russian army from childhood were forced to give up their dream.
The reform became more tragic for many of the already serving officers of the army and navy. People who often went through the crucible of war or participation in military conflicts were simply expelled from the ranks of the army. Hope for the future collapsed. Families were destroyed. For many, the world was crumbling. At the age of 30-40, a person found himself without a perspective in life. Captains, majors, colonels turned into civilian "novices".
Conversations about the fact that the knowledge and experience of such people are simply necessary for the state quickly turned into a fairy tale. After the first interview with the employer. Second, third … Yes, we need you … Such people are just a treasure for us … We will call you … Indeed, why would a young, forward-thinking businessman, forty years old, able not only to think, but also to command, a subordinate? Moreover, God forbid, who knows how to express his point of view? Sound familiar?
And there were clearly not enough security structures for everyone.
The rapid reduction of military units deprived the prospects of service and young lieutenants. Remember how many of the graduates of military universities immediately after graduation went to "civilian life". They just didn't sign a contract. Moreover, how many of those who signed the contract left the "captains". Captain is probably the most popular rank among retired officers today.
Those who were lucky to serve in the European part of Russia, in large cities, somehow managed to adapt. The development of the business and the rapid growth of new firms gave at least some hope for work. And those who served in Siberia and the Far East? And what kept them?
An apartment in a military town away from normal life? The opportunity to work and get a good salary? Perfect weather conditions? Prospects for children? Alas, the majority did not have any of this at all. And officers left this region by the thousands. We didn’t leave because they were cowardly. They left because overnight the state did not need it.
Many officer posts have been cut. In their place, positions for civilian employees have been introduced. I perfectly understand moms and dads who are happy to see civilian cooks in the soldiers' canteen. Civilians should be more skilled than "soldiers". However, in the event of a redeployment of a unit or subunit, who will feed the soldiers? The civilian is "tied" to the house, to the locality. And he did not take the oath. Normal work, nothing more.
Thanks to Serdyukov, the Russian army lost more than 200,000 officers. 200 thousand people who have lost the core that was the meaning of their lives. Moreover, most of those dismissed were thrown into the street before the length of service required for receiving a pension.
Let's not talk about those officers who actually sat up to retirement. Although there were very, very many of them. Headquarters, military registration and other. We are talking about those who held lower positions and had not so many stars on their epaulets.
The number of captains (and this is just the most necessary link in the army - the commanders of companies, batteries) has almost halved (1, 8, more precisely). The unit commanders were "knocked out" more thoroughly. The colonels were reduced by 5 times. Lieutenant colonels 4 times.
I specifically cited data on this link in the army and navy. Any military man understands: this is the backbone of any army. Those who are directly involved in hostilities or develop combat operations. Those who have already become an officer in reality, and not in rank.
But with the colonels, it's a little easier. Reduced not only parts, but also controls. That's why the colonels suffered.
But at the initial stage, the idea was quite good. Remember how many senior officers served in universities, military registration and enlistment offices, at factories and in other institutions. How many officers were there "because they are paid for the position and for the rank." It was proposed to reduce precisely these positions. Near army. But … It was proposed to cut those who were to be cut. And then shoulder straps flew from real commanders. The military units began to carry out the "order".
Now that we have understood that strength, including military strength, is an important part of independence, the state is trying to somehow rectify the situation. The enrollment of cadets in military institutes and academies has been dramatically increased. The monetary allowance of servicemen has been increased to an acceptable level. Military camps with completely modern living conditions are being built. For career military personnel, the issue of housing through a mortgage is being resolved.
But today there is a terrible shortage of officers in the Russian army. In all military districts. But especially in the East. Thousands of vacant officer positions. And where the officers are needed most of all. This is a platoon and company link. Those same lieutenants and starleys who are constantly with the soldiers. The strength of the army depends on the knowledge and ability to train these particular lieutenants. And it is they who lead the soldier into battle. Shoulder to shoulder. They even die together.
Some readers may object. Military universities have dramatically increased their enrollment. Yes, they did. And it is really significant. But this increase should be considered from the "reform" of Serdyukov. Let me remind you that in 2011, 1,160 people were admitted to study at military universities in Russia. Exactly. Slightly more than a thousand cadets for the entire army. For an army of almost a million.
Communicating at exercises with senior officers from major and above, I often heard complaints about the level of training of junior officers. Today it has come to the point that an experienced contract sergeant is valued more than a lieutenant. Simply because, as a platoon / division commander, a conscript sergeant is already quite "ready for use." Unlike the lieutenant.
It became clear that the situation needed to be corrected, and urgently.
Today, mobile groups of personnel officers from the Eastern Military District operate in many regional military registration and enlistment offices. The task of these groups is simple - to find and return reserve officers who were dismissed from the Armed Forces in the district units. And they want to return precisely the junior officers. The same platoon and company link. Those who are 30 today, give or take 5.
The initiative for such an attempt belongs officially personally to the commander of the Eastern Military District, Colonel-General Sergei Surovikin. Why officially? Because such decisions are at least agreed with the superior.
Are there any prospects for this idea? According to official figures, about 600 people have returned to the service today. All officers are assigned to military units and subunits. But…
I know several officers who "left" under Serdyukov. Senior officers. And none of them are going to return to the army. No one! Only if the war. Salted with soldiers' sweat back in Afghanistan and Chechnya, they do not believe that they can now serve normally. And it’s too late to change the newly established life for military camps. Everything is "settled".
But the most important thing is that the majority does not see any prospects in such a service. Both for myself and for the army. You can take the position. Will it only benefit the subordinates? Any officer understands that the main thing in the service is the benefit. Train the soldier and officer to be able to complete any task. Field officers are skeptical of the "staff". It just so happened in the Russian army for a long time. Therefore, the question of senior officers, as I think, is closed today.
The vacancies that are offered at the local military registration and enlistment office, I specifically looked, most of them - platoon commanders. Anyone from motorized rifle to medical, including naval officers. The conditions are excellent. But for some reason there is no queue.
Well-educated, young officers, in contrast to the "old men", have already entered into civilian life. Young people adapt faster. Yes, and learns too. Probably, there will be those among the young who “did not fit in”. But the number of such will be minimal. And are they really needed in the army?
The problem remained. Universities are working, cadets are being recruited. The prestige of the military profession today is quite high. It is impossible just to train a professional today in a couple of years. Weapons and military equipment require not just a competent officer, but a person who really professionally owns this technique. And this is five to six years of study.
The commanders of units and formations are "twisting" as best they can. Warrant officers are appointed to the posts of junior officers. In some units, platoons are generally commanded by contract sergeants. But this is "plugging holes". An option when fish is without fish and cancer. And a sergeant, a particularly good sergeant, as mentioned above, is still a bream.
So what lies ahead? I am sure that the personnel problem is a headache for most headquarters today. The Eastern Military District was simply in the worst position. And there are almost no prospects of "getting" a fresh lieutenant from the university. I think that a variant, already tested in Soviet times, should be expected soon. Graduates of military departments of civilian universities will be recruited to the posts of platoon-level officers. "Jackets".
The vacancy, of course, will be filled. Only the quality of such commanders … One very good leader of a great country was right. "Cadres are everything!" And these cadres must be protected. The army is not a housing office. The janitor can be replaced with another without any problems. But the officer is very problematic.
In Soviet times, "jackets" were quite common. Moreover, some of those called up remained in the army and served excellently in the future. I know one retiree. He joined the army from the Tashkent Polytechnic Institute. In Afghanistan, 7 times went to the caravan. He retired as a lieutenant colonel. And he has not only anniversary awards on his chest.
But in order for such officers to appear, a very clear and well-thought-out personnel policy is necessary. The contracts that are entered into upon admission to the service must be long enough. At least 5-7 years old. And the next contract should already give some privileges. The officer must be "fixed" in the unit.
In addition, it is necessary to resume the rotation of officers in the districts. The commanders should serve not only in one district. There must be a prospect of moving. As it was in the USSR. Five to seven years and either for promotion or in another district. From east to west and vice versa. Thus, there is an incentive to grow professionally.
For the next two or three years, the personnel problem, especially at the level of the platoon-company commander, will persist. The contract army, which we hear about all the time, requires seriously trained commanders. A professional soldier is not a conscript. His knowledge and skills are much higher. This means that the commander must also be a specialist.
And to the commanders of units and formations, I will remind the old tale: "We would only have to stand for the night, but hold out for the day." And the lieutenants will come. They will come and stand in line. But, unfortunately, not tomorrow, but in a few years. We can only hope and believe that properly trained professionals will come. Not hunters to "serve" the contract for the sake of the desired housing and a quick pension.
It is only on such principles that we can get an army of professionals. Professionals not in terms of contracts, but in essence. But these are the immediate prospects. In the meantime, platoon commanders must be trained from those who are. And seek, seek, seek …
