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5_Zvehzda
Just Starting
Joined: 30 Mar 2010
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:59 am Post subject: Российские Вооруженные силы |
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Does anyone have any experience serving in the Russian military (or CIS) - or maybe know someone who has stories to share? The mandatory draft has been discussed here before in the forum. Many people who are not from the RF are curious of this process. But were any of you called to duty by the draft, or did you serve voluntarily? What is the usual procedure involved and how did you handle it? Was it the Army, Navy, Air-Force . . . did you move on to serve in Special Ops? It would be interesting to hear some details of your experiences and personal accounts, or others you know whom have had such experiences . . . except if it's too difficult, personally - to talk about here.
Cпасибо! |
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wavetossed
WayToRussified
Joined: 27 Jun 2004
Posts: 339
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| Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 11:22 pm Post subject: |
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Watch the TV series Soldaty. It is about some guys going through their 2 years of military service. It is a bit comedy, a bit drama, and it all takes place on the military base. There are 16 episodes in each season and it is now in it's 3rd season on RenTV.
If you don't have any other way to get a hold of TV shows, then you can always buy the DVDs from www.ozon.ru. They currently sell the first two seasons "Soldaty" and "Soldaty 2" and there are 4 episodes on each DVD.
Of course, this is all in Russian with no subtitles, but I don't know how you could really understand Russian culture without learning the language. I am in my 14th month of intensive study, spending about an hour every day on the Russian language (or using the language). Yes, "every day" means 7 days a week. I'm pointing this out to let you know that if you really want to learn Russian, with no excuses, then you can be watching Russian films in the original after about 8 months. I still only understand about 60% of the dialog, but the body language of the actors and the images fill in most of the gaps. And I can rewind the DVD if I need to, unlike conversations or classes. |
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rodionx
Frequent Guest
Joined: 31 Jul 2004
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:50 am Post subject: |
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I've heard a few stories from Russians who served in the military, but I've heard a lot more stories from guys who dodged the draft. There's a million ways to get out of it. From my experience, only the rougher sort end up in the military, because they haven't enough influence to dodge it.
The stories you do hear about service in the Russian military are usually unpleasant. They have a system there called "dyedushina", whereby the older recruits systematically haze the younger recruits. One guy told me that the dyedushina isn't so bad in Chechnya, because the hazer risks getting shot in the back by the hazee. |
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init6
WayToRussified
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 363
Location: Москва, Россия
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| Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think I'd want my hazing reduced by being shot or, much, much, worse, captured by Chechen terrorists. The hazing is idiotic and, in my opinion, severely limits the effectiveness of the Russian army. Perhaps it's a cultural thing (obviously it is, and I know it happened in the Red Army, too), but it needs to be cracked down on and eliminated.
I've also read other accounts that the government was cracking down on conscription deferments (sp?), even though a skinny kid who wears glasses and studies English 18 hours per day is not going to make a good soldier!
The US has an entirely professional army at the moment (well, the reservists and Nat'l Guard are arguably 'professional'), and I am pleased about this, as I could've been drafted at the beginning of the Iraq war. To be honest, if they reinstate the draft, I could still be drafted until my birthday in March (the new draft is 18-26, up from 25), but good luck "extraditing" me from Russia so that we can invade Iran or Syria! 
Anyhow, I'd really like to see the Russian military become a lot more professional and effective. While I know feelings run high regarding Chechnya, and I've no doubts that gross human rights violations have occurred at the hands of the Russians, I've also seen video of Chechens sawing the head off of a young conscript, shooting unarmed prisoners, cutting people's fingers off, etc. These people need to be defeated. Quickly. At least ibn-Ul Khattab is dead now! |
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rodionx
Frequent Guest
Joined: 31 Jul 2004
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 1:29 am Post subject: |
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It is possible to join the Russian army voluntarily - I know a guy who did, and he now works as a guard at a military prison. He's doing all right, especially for someone with little education. So you'll already find both career soldiers and conscripts in the Russian army.
Russia's problem is that, unlike the US, it doesn't have enough money to attract a sufficient number of volunteers. That's what they say, at least. If the generals stopped using conscripts to fix their dachas, wash their cars, and dig holes in the steppe, then maybe there would be enough volunteers to go around.
Couldn't agree more on the Chechens, or at least the Wahabis among them. People who complain about Putin not respecting human rights ought to watch some of those films. |
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