Every year the modernization of the Russian Armed Forces is gaining momentum. New types of weapons are being approved, the infrastructure of the army is being improved, and the professional excellence military personnel. So today's question is Rearmament reforms of the Russian Armed Forces 2018 still remains open.
In certain circles, doubts arise that the military reform program of 2008-2020 will be completed on time. In mind economic crisis and rapidly changing conditions in the country, it is very difficult to predict the outcome of the reform.
The problem of the need for such a reform was voiced shortly before 2008 and was presented only as one of the possible directions for future reformation. A set of measures, divided into several stages, is designed to change and improve the structure, number and composition of a strategically important for the country military organization- Armed forces Russian Federation.
Stages of rearmament:
- Stage I – took place from 2008 to 2011 inclusive.
- Stage II - began in 2012 and ended in 2015.
- Stage III – planned for the period from 2016 to 2020 inclusive.
Organizational and staffing maneuvers
At the first stage, organizational and staffing measures were carried out aimed at improving management, optimizing numbers and carrying out military education reform.
One of the main directions of the first stage of the reformation was the transition from a system consisting of four links (that is, “military district - army - division - regiment”) to a system including only three links: “military district - operational command - brigade”.
The number of military districts was reduced, each of which established its own reserve command. During the rearmament reform, the number of military units.
Reduction degree:
- Ground troops– by 90%;
- Navy - by 49%;
- Air Force - by 48%;
- Rocket Forces strategic purpose– by 33%;
- Airborne troops - by 17%;
- Space Forces - by 15%.
A significant part of the rearmament was the reduction in the number of military personnel. Officers were the most affected by the reformation: with approximately 300 thousand people, the number officers decreased by almost half.
It must be said that the optimization of numbers was determined to be unsuccessful. The actions of the military department led to complex problems: professional part junior staff The army command was completely destroyed. Experts, by the way, recognized the program to replace warrant officers with sergeants as a failure.
It is expected that the warrant officers will return to their units in the required composition. By the beginning of 2018, the military department plans to increase the number Russian army. So, total number officers will be 220 thousand people, warrant officers and midshipmen - approximately 50 thousand people, contract military personnel - 425 thousand people, conscripts - 300 thousand people. A significant number of conscripts testify to.
The reform of military education implies the reduction of some military institutes and universities, and instead of them, scientific centers were formed under the leadership of the Ministry of Defense.
Optimization of social security for military personnel
The second stage of the reformation, which includes resolving issues social nature, was aimed at the following activities: providing housing, increasing material allowances, advanced training and professional retraining.
On this moment the number of military personnel without housing has decreased significantly compared to 2009. Unfortunately, not everything went smoothly. In the first years of the second stage this question was successfully resolved, but since 2012 the number of people who do not have their own apartment has grown inexorably.
The elimination of the queue for housing, according to the plan of the Ministry of Defense, was to be completed by 2013. However this process was not implemented for a number of serious reasons. In such conditions, the department took the only the right decision instead of housing, give those on the waiting list a one-time cash payment.
The increase in material allowances for military personnel occurred in 2012. Salaries were increased almost 3 times, and military pensions also increased. All allowances and additional payments in force before the reformation were abolished, and completely new additional payments were introduced instead.
All contract servicemen, according to the professional retraining reform, were required to undergo special “survival courses” aimed at improving their skills. Retraining of officers is carried out when a serviceman is appointed to a position.
Rearmament reform at present
Currently, the third stage of the reform of the rearmament of the Russian Armed Forces is underway. As of 2016, the total share of new weapons in the Russian Military Forces was 47%, while, according to the plan, this figure should have been only 30%. For the army, this means receiving an additional number of modern tanks, small arms and other types of weapons.
The ultimate goal of the reform is to increase the number of modern weapons to 70% by 2020. Thus, the modernization of the army of the Russian Federation must be completed on time and in full.
In addition to technical improvements, the rearmament reform contributed to increasing the level of combat training of military personnel, conducting large-scale exercises, forming new military institutions and units, optimizing the structure of the Military Forces, etc.
Best estimate current state matters may be the opinion of our sworn “friends” from the West, who emphasize the ever-increasing military power our country.
1. The need, prerequisites and goal of reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
The main objectives of the lesson are: in-depth study available documents and materials in order to provide moral and psychological support to personnel (especially officers) for the idea and plan of reform of the Armed Forces, to form an interested attitude towards its results, a sense of involvement and personal responsibility for its progress and outcome.
The Russian Federation is going through a difficult and responsible period of its development. The tasks of deep economic and democratic transformations are being solved.
Historical experience shows that in turning points In the life of our country, the Armed Forces have always been subject to deep reform. Their number, structure, recruitment methods, military technical equipment brought into line with the realities of the time.
Currently, a large-scale and active work to reform the army and navy, giving them a modern appearance, mobility, high combat capability and combat readiness.
On July 16, 1997, the President of Russia signed the Decree “On priority measures to reform the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and improve their structure.” It substantiates the objective need for military reform, defines its stages, content, economic justification and timing of its implementation. The decree establishes proper control and responsibility for the implementation of planned military development measures. This document is a detailed and reasoned program for reform of the Armed Forces.
1. The need, prerequisites and goal of reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Since the creation of the Russian Armed Forces (May 7, 1992), there has been a lot of talk about their reform. In practice, things essentially did not move forward. Today in the country, in the military leadership, a clear and clear understanding of the objective necessity, goals, and ways of reforming the army and navy has formed.
What exactly are the patterns that determine the need for the ongoing reform? What is their essence and how do they influence military development?
One of the determining factors influencing the military development of the state is geostrategic position of the country, the nature and features of the military-political situation in the world. It's about to correctly, soberly and balancedly determine whether there is a military threat to the country, its sources, scale and nature, to give correct assessment the real military-political situation and prospects for its development. The nature and direction of the military development of the state directly and directly depends on the answer to them.
After the end of the Cold War, the military-political situation in the world changed significantly. There was a lot in it positive changes. The former acute and dangerous military and ideological confrontation between the two systems has disappeared. There is no threat of large-scale war for our country at present and in the near future. It must be emphasized that a large-scale armed clash with the NATO bloc is also unlikely, despite its expansion to the East. In other words, at present and in the near future there is no visible serious external threat to the country. Russia, in turn, does not consider any state or people as its potential enemy.
But these changes do not mean the complete disappearance of the military danger. She now proceeds from the possibility local wars and armed conflicts. Therefore, it is important to decide what kind of army Russia should have, based on the nature of modern regional wars and conflicts in which it may participate to one degree or another.
Today, the country's Armed Forces, not counting numerous other troops, number 1.7 million people. Their numbers are clearly inadequate to the existing military danger. There is a direct rationale for their reduction and reorganization. The country's leadership proceeds from this, putting forward the well-founded and long-overdue task of immediately carrying out reform of the Armed Forces.
The need for reform of the Armed Forces is also dictated by economic considerations. The country has been undergoing economic reform for 6 years now. It is being carried out in conditions of a severe crisis. The decline in production has not yet been overcome. In a number of key indicators, Russia seriously lags behind the main centers of power in the modern world. It accounts for only 2% of world economic output, but 4% of military spending. This means that the country's military spending is twice the world average. And one more indicator: in terms of gross domestic product per capita, we are in 46th place in the world.
Currently, the maintenance of the Armed Forces, other troops and law enforcement agencies up to 40% of the country's annual budget revenue is spent. It's holding back economic transformation, does not allow increasing investment in the development of industrial and agricultural production. Our economy, which is also in a crisis situation, is simply not able to withstand such a load. This is due to the underfunding of the army, especially in combat training and equipping with new weapons, delays in the payment of allowances and an increase in the number of homeless military personnel. These circumstances have an extremely negative impact on the combat effectiveness and combat readiness of the army and navy. Life requires bringing the Armed Forces into line with the level of existing military danger and the economic capabilities of the state.
The need to reform the Armed Forces is also associated with a number of demographic restrictions . The decline in population is of serious concern to the Russian leadership. During 1996, the country's population decreased by 475 thousand people. The trends in 1997 are similar.
IN last years Despite the apparent sufficiency of human resources, only a quarter of conscripts enter military service. The rest enjoy benefits, deferments, etc. As a result, there is a large shortage of privates and sergeants, which reduces the level of combat readiness.
Today, every third young man cannot serve due to health reasons (in 1995 - only every twentieth). 15% of conscripts have a body deficit; the number of people prone to alcoholism has doubled (12%); 8% of young people recruited into the army are drug addicts.
The manning situation is aggravated by the presence of military units in another 15 federal structures, also applying for conscription. Let's say the Ministry of Internal Affairs has about 540 thousand people, plus 260 thousand in the internal troops; Railway troops- 80 thousand; Border troops- 230 thousand; Ministry of Emergency Situations - 70 thousand; building structures - about 100 thousand people, etc. And from this point of view, the restructuring of the military organization is extremely necessary.
It is advisable to sharply reduce the number of federal departments that have military formations, it is more decisive to move to a mixed and then to a contract system of completing parts. With the reduction of the Armed Forces, this prospect becomes quite real, allowing us to move to a professional army.
What is the goal of the reform under consideration? It is primarily designed to increase the country's defense capability and bring the troops into line with the requirements of the time.
“Modern Armed Forces,” noted in the Address of the President of the Russian Federation B.N. Yeltsin to Russian soldiers, “must be compact, mobile and equipped with modern weapons.” “At the same time, the reform,” said the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, “will radically improve the social situation and material well-being of a person in uniform.” (Red Star, July 30, 1997).
As the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army I. D. Sergeev noted, these should be “highly equipped, with sufficient deterrence potential, a modern level of professional and moral-psychological training, combat-ready, compact and mobile Armed Forces of rational composition, structure, and numbers.” (“Red Star”, June 27, 1997)
2. Main stages and content of the reform.
Military reform is a national, national task. Being extremely complex, it is designed to a long period. During its course, they highlight two stages.
On the first (until 2000) The structure, combat strength and strength of the Armed Forces are being optimized.
During this period, a new military doctrine is being developed and approved, research and development work (R&D) on new generation weapons, combat control and communications equipment, and dual-use technologies is being actively carried out.
On the second (2000-2005) qualitative improvement of the reduced Armed Forces is ensured,
increasing their combat effectiveness, switching to a contract recruitment principle, and continues to develop models of weapons of the next generations. In short, over the next 8 years, the Russian Armed Forces will be completely reformed. And subsequently, large-scale rearmament of the army, navy and other troops will begin with models of equipment that will serve in the 21st century.
What are the specific priorities of military development at the first stage of the reform of the Armed Forces? They are outlined in the reform plan, approved by the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, the commanders-in-chief of the branches of the Armed Forces and approved by the President of the Russian Federation.
Army reform, despite insufficient budgetary allocations, has begun. We can say with satisfaction that it is gaining rapid momentum. Reasonable and rational directions for its implementation have been chosen.
In order to bring the military organization of the state into line with the needs of defense and security, as well as the economic capabilities of the country, the number of military personnel is being reduced.
Total in 1997 - 2005 Almost 600 thousand officers, warrant officers and midshipmen will be dismissed from the Armed Forces. Including over 175 thousand career military personnel in 1998, almost 120 thousand in 1999. The number of civilian personnel will decrease from 600 thousand people to 300 thousand people within a year and a half.
The number of military personnel in the army and navy as of January 1, 1999 was set at 1.2 million people. This size of the Armed Forces is quite optimal and will, without a doubt, ensure reliable defense of the Russian state.
However, the reduction of the army and navy is not the main thing in their reform. The main thing is to optimize the structure and combat strength, improve the controllability and equipment of the troops.
Therefore it is necessary major organizational restructuring of the Armed Forces. The merger will take place before January 1 of next year. Missile Forces strategic purposes, the Military Space Forces and the Air Defense Missile and Space Defense Forces. It will be high quality the new kind Armed Forces. It will retain the name "Strategic Missile Forces". This merger will allow us to eliminate unnecessary parallel links, as well as pool resources and get rid of excess financial expenses. The main thing is that related defensive functions are concentrated in one hand, and the cause of the country's security wins. As a result of this reorganization, the efficiency of the possible use of the Strategic Missile Forces increases by approximately 20%, and the economic effect will exceed 1 trillion rubles.
In the same year radical optimization measures governing bodies, including - central office. Their numbers will be reduced by approximately 1/3. In particular, the Main Directorate of the Ground Forces is not only significantly reduced, but also transformed into the Main Directorate of the Ground Forces. It is reassigned to one of the Deputy Ministers of Defense and will focus mainly on issues of combat training of troops. The purpose of the reforms of management bodies is to improve the quality and efficiency of management, professionalism, and staff culture. In 1998, the Air Force and Air Defense Forces merged.. Based on their unification, a branch of the Armed Forces is created - Air Force. But the process of this unification will be far from easy, given different methods and ways to manage these types of Armed Forces, and most importantly - they different tasks. During the unification, the combat strength of the Air Force and Air Defense will be optimized, and the problem of managing them under the new structure will be solved.
In connection with this transformation, the transition from a five-service to a four-service structure of the Armed Forces is being completed. Then a three-service structure is envisaged (according to the areas of use of troops: land, air, space and sea). Ultimately, we must arrive at two components: Strategic forces deterrence (SSS) and Forces general purpose(DREAM).
During the reform Navy changes will also occur, although its structure will generally remain the same. There will be 4 fleets left - the Baltic, Northern, Pacific and Black Sea, as well as Caspian flotilla. But they will be more compact than the current groupings of forces and assets on strategically important ocean and sea directions. The fleet should retain ships of high combat effectiveness, strategic submarine cruisers, support forces. Reducing the number of ships will increase the importance naval aviation coastal based. The fleet will deal with more limited issues than at present, combat missions.
Ground troops - the basis of the Armed Forces. And yet the number of divisions in them will decrease. It is expected that 25 divisions will be retained. Some of them will be fully equipped and combat-ready in every strategic direction. They will be able to effectively solve relevant problems. Based on the remaining divisions, weapons storage bases will be created and military equipment. The combat potential of the retained divisions will increase. They will be equipped with new weapons and control systems. Thanks to this, efficiency will almost double destructive actions divisions. Serious changes will also affect military districts.
Military districts are given the status of operational-strategic (operational-territorial) commands Armed forces of the Russian Federation in the relevant directions. Within the boundaries of their responsibility, military districts are entrusted with the functions of operational leadership of all military formations, regardless of their affiliation with various federal departments. This means that border internal troops, parts civil defense and other military formations are operationally subordinate to the operational-strategic command.
In connection with the planned transformations, the military system nationwide will undergo serious changes. It will acquire harmony and completeness, the ability to more effectively solve pressing issues of strengthening the country's defense.
As already mentioned, the reform of the Armed Forces is carried out under conditions of severe financial restrictions, when the defense budget not only does not increase, but is even cut. Therefore, it is important to persistently seek internal reserves and skillfully use them.
This thesis is rejected by a number of opponents and is strongly criticized by some media. Meanwhile, there are internal reserves. They are quite serious.
Already at the first stage of reform, it is necessary to get rid of unjustified and unproductive expenses that do not meet the interests of strengthening the country's defense capability. The Armed Forces must get rid of enterprises and organizations, objects and structures, without which their livelihoods would be virtually unaffected and they are quite capable of existing.
Currently already The process of withdrawing so-called support structures from the Armed Forces began. Some of them are significantly reorganized and corporatized. This will reduce the number of military and civilian personnel. At the same time, considerable funds will be received to replenish the defense budget and provide social protection.
A major reorganization of the military construction complex is underway. It is carried out on the basis of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, signed on July 8, 1997, “On the reform of state unitary enterprises that are part of the construction and quartering bodies of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.” More than 100 organizations of the military-construction complex, being withdrawn from the Armed Forces, will be transformed into joint stock companies. The number of military personnel will be reduced by 50 thousand people, and the controlling stake will remain in federal property. On this basis, considerable funds will be received. The Armed Forces temporarily retain 19 state enterprises that will be engaged in construction and industrial activities, as well as ensuring the livelihoods of remote garrisons.
On July 17, 1997, the President of the Russian Federation signed a Decree on Education Federal service special construction in Russia . The reorganized Rosspetsstroy will provide the most important special construction works. At the same time, the number of military personnel will be reduced from 76 thousand to 10 thousand people. Also on July 17, 1997, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation The Federal Road Construction Administration was reorganized. It operated under the Ministry of Defense, and has now been transferred to the Federal Road Service of the country. At the same time, the number of military personnel of this department is reduced from 57 to 15 thousand people.
Thus, only according to the three mentioned decrees of the President of the Russian Federation, due to structural changes, it will be possible to reduce about 150 thousand military personnel. In general, as a result of the reform, the number of military construction workers will be reduced by 71%, and civilian personnel in military construction by 42%. Military construction planned to be conducted on a competitive basis. All this will significantly reduce the burden on the defense budget. Moreover, it will be significantly replenished due to numerous enterprises being withdrawn from the Armed Forces.
At the first stage of reform, such problems will have to be resolved. There are about 100 agricultural enterprises in the system of the Ministry of Defense. Many of them are unprofitable. They were created during a period of food shortages. Currently, their preservation in the same form is not justified everywhere. Therefore, their corporatization is envisaged. However, in a number of regions (Kola Peninsula, Sakhalin, Kamchatka, Tiki, etc.) They still significantly meet the needs for essential food products.
The number of military representations at enterprises in which officers are involved is being reduced, numbering 38 thousand people. Moreover, representatives various types The Armed Forces sometimes perform overlapping functions. There is an urgent need to have a unified system of government representation at enterprises. It is also advisable to liquidate numerous hunting grounds, recreation centers, etc., for the maintenance of which subsidies and compensation are constantly increasing at the expense of the Ministry of Defense.
During the reform of the Armed Forces it is necessary transfer to organs local authorities social infrastructure facilities(parts of housing and communal services, kindergartens and nurseries, schools, household enterprises, etc.), which are on the balance sheet of the Ministry of Defense. These are tens of thousands of buildings and structures. The cost of maintaining social infrastructure sometimes reaches 30% of the cost of maintaining troops. Their transfer to local budgets will begin in this year and will end in 1999. This measure will provide annual savings of 2-3 trillion rubles. They will also be used to provide social guarantees for military personnel.
Has now started radical reorganization of military trade, which employs about 62 thousand people. The administrative apparatus is being restructured and reduced. Unprofitable enterprises are liquidated. The sale of the largest military trade objects in Moscow and major centers where they have lost their functional purpose. All this will allow us to almost halve the number of military trade personnel, including military personnel by 75%. More than a trillion rubles will be received from the corporatization of trading enterprises. At the same time, the Ministry of Defense retains a controlling stake. You can manage these businesses and earn income.
It should be especially noted that military personnel and their families will not suffer at all from the reorganization of the military trade system. After all, up to 70% of enterprises serve closed and remote garrisons.
During the reform, many military camps are being released. Becomes redundant a large number of various weapons. Military property is being released.
The reform of the Armed Forces is intended to adjust the structure of the defense budget . IN Lately An extremely unfavorable structure for financing the Armed Forces has developed. Up to 70% of the allocated funds goes towards salaries for officers and salaries for civilian personnel. Moreover, in 1996, more than 7 trillion rubles were spent for these purposes in excess of budgetary funds. And combat training and procurement new technology are actually not funded. At a meeting of the Federation Council on July 4 this year. Minister of Defense General of the Army I.D. Sergeev stated: “In the Armed Forces, with the exception of the Missile Forces and several formations of the Ground Forces, combat training is almost completely absent” (Red Star, July 5, 1997). The troops receive almost no new military equipment and weapons. As a result, the level of combat and mobilization readiness of troops and their technical equipment are reduced. The reduction of the army and navy and their organizational transformations will make it possible to use approximately half of the defense budget for combat training and the acquisition of new weapons.
The most important problem determining the success of reform is financing. This is the "question of questions" today. As is already clear from the previous explanations, it is envisaged to have three sources of funding: 1) budget money for improving the combat training of troops, the daily provision of the entire structure of combat readiness (Today this figure is 1%, but in 1998 it will rise to 10%); 2) sale of surplus released military property and trade enterprises; 3) line item in the budget for social guarantees military personnel being transferred to the reserve.
It will be decided in a completely new way issue of military personnel training. The task of reforming the military education system is to increase the level of personnel training and at the same time optimize training costs. Currently, the Ministry of Defense has 100 universities, incl. 18 military academies. Their number clearly exceeds the personnel requirements of the army and navy in the new conditions. It will be reduced, including through mergers. Let's say, at present, 17 military educational institutions are training aviation specialists for the Air Force, Air Defense and Ground Forces, incl. two academies (VVA Air Force and VA Air Defense). After their reorganization there will be 8 aviation schools. The two academies will be merged into Military Academy Air Force and Air Defense, which will train command personnel. A military technical aviation university them. NOT. Zhukovsky will focus on training engineering personnel for all branches of the Armed Forces.
During the military reform, such a difficult task will have to be solved. It, of course, goes beyond the Ministry of Defense, but its experience in reorganizing the system of training military personnel will have to be used in every possible way. Now each power ministry and department has its own system for training military personnel. In addition to the Ministry of Defense, military universities operate in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (more than 30), in the Federal Border Service (7), etc. Unfortunately, the activities of numerous universities are not coordinated by anyone. There is an urgent need to create a unified (federal) system for training military personnel for all law enforcement ministries and departments. At the same time, the quality of personnel training will certainly increase. This will also be facilitated by increasing the professionalism of university teaching staff. In particular, filling a number of positions with trained civilian specialists, extending the service life of officer-scientists and specialists highly qualified etc.
Further - in the current state of affairs, primarily due to low prestige military service, many military school cadets break their contracts after completing their second year of training. At the same time, they are credited with a two-year period of military service and continue their studies in related civilian educational institutions already from the 3rd year. As a result, the Ministry of Defense incurs huge costs and does not receive required quantity trained officers. This problem requires an optimal solution.
Practice shows that up to 40% of graduates leave the Armed Forces after graduating from college. The reasons are well known. All this leads to a shortage of young officers. Here we have to find the right and optimal solutions.
It is necessary to significantly reform the rear organs of the Armed Forces. They are brought into line with the new species structure army and navy. Their optimization and adaptation to market economic conditions are envisaged. The rear of the Armed Forces is called upon to be more economical and to use budget funds rationally. All this should help improve the nutrition of soldiers, their clothing allowance, in general, logistical support for troops.
Thus, the reform of the Armed Forces is a truly large-scale and responsible matter, requiring great effort and significant material costs. The reform affects fundamental interests national security countries. The success of its implementation depends on a number of conditions. First of all, from popular support for ongoing activities (material and moral support), from the level of state and military leadership of changes in the military sphere. No wonder the President of the Russian Federation B.N. Yeltsin took the course of reform of the Armed Forces under his personal control.
3. The tasks of military personnel to ensure combat readiness, strengthen military discipline and law and order, and successfully implement the reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
The reform of the Armed Forces, their radical transformation, have a decisive influence on changes in the scale and nature of the tasks they solve.
It should be emphasized that even in the new conditions, as follows from the essence of the reform, the function of the Armed Forces was and remains the same. This is to ensure Russia's security from external threats its territorial integrity, sovereignty, economic and political interests.
Despite the low probability modern conditions large-scale aggression against our country, the task of ensuring external security still remains relevant. The main sources of military danger are local wars and regional conflicts in which Russia may be involved.
Under these conditions, there is a need for a certain adjustment of both general tasks and their individual species. And this will inevitably determine the content and direction of the entire process of combat training and military service. The Armed Forces are called upon to reliably deter any possible aggression, and at the same time have the ability and ability to prevent or fend off local wars and regional conflicts.
The main task of deterring aggression still rests with the Strategic Missile Forces. In connection with the reform, they acquire new fighting qualities. Carrying out decisive role in deterring aggression, they are also less expensive than other types of Armed Forces. Nuclear deterrence remains the core of Russia's national defense system. This is a reliable guarantee of the country’s security during a period of deep economic and political changes, including reform of the Armed Forces.
In terms of conventional Armed forces and weapons, Russia will have sufficient capabilities to successfully solve combat missions in local wars and regional conflicts. Ground forces will be small in number, compact and mobile. They will have transportation means for operations in various strategic directions. The Air Force will play an increasing role in local wars and regional conflicts. The combat power of the conventional Armed Forces will increase significantly over the years of reform as a result of equipping them with high-precision weapons systems.
The Navy, while maintaining mostly modern structure, will have the ability to solve problems in important ocean and maritime strategic areas, ensuring the state interests of the country. But the scope of these tasks may be limited due to positive changes in the military-political situation in the world.
The likelihood of local wars and armed conflicts will necessitate more active participation in international peacekeeping operations. They are organized by the UN, OSCE, CIS. This is a fundamentally new task for the Russian Armed Forces. To solve it, special military contingents may be required, as is happening, for example, now in Tajikistan.
As you can see, the reform of the Armed Forces, their deep transformation in no way relieves the army and navy of the task of ensuring the country's security. But the content of the tasks is being clarified and adjusted in connection with changes in the nature and scale of military dangers for the country.
The success of the reform of the Armed Forces and their implementation of the tasks of ensuring the security of our state directly depends on the activity and efficiency military labor personnel army and navy. The challenges of reform are complex. But any reforms are carried out by people - specific military personnel. And active participation in putting reforms into practice is our common patriotic duty.
The training leader must emphasize that the main efforts of personnel in the context of the reform should be aimed at maintaining high combat readiness, which is unthinkable without high training of military personnel, strong military discipline and law and order.
The leadership of the Ministry of Defense considers the priority task at the stage of reforms to be the prevention of crimes and incidents, primarily related to the death and injury of people, manifestations of hazing, loss and theft of weapons, ammunition and military property. Such facts reduce the effectiveness of reforms and divert a lot of effort from solving the main tasks associated with reforming the army and navy.
The level of organization of personnel is very important; it is necessary that reorganization, mass dismissal military personnel, the withdrawal of supporting structures from the Armed Forces, etc. were carried out as planned, without any failures. The main thing is not to slacken attention to the tasks of increasing vigilance and combat readiness, because modern world not safe.
Under these conditions, the requirements for officers who organize the training and education of subordinates and guides increase immeasurably public policy in the army and navy. The quality of combat training and the level of military skill of soldiers and sergeants primarily depend on their professionalism, sense of responsibility, and initiative.
They are the bearers of high morale and discipline. Only them personal example in service, in observance Russian laws and military regulations serves as an effective means of establishing law and order and strong military discipline in the troops.
This is exactly what the Minister of Defense, General of the Army I.D., spoke about at a reception in honor of graduates of military academies on June 30, 1997. Sergeev: “We must not forget that the state of the army and navy is determined primarily by the state of the officer corps. It is the officers, true professionals, patriots, devoted to their Fatherland, who carry out their duties with dignity high rank Defender of the Russian Land” (“Red Star”, July 1, 1997).
During the period of reform, attention to the issues of social protection of soldiers cannot be weakened.
The guarantee of success is to maintain a healthy moral and psychological state in military teams in today's difficult times.
It is necessary to see in each of your subordinates not a robot, not a blind tool, but a person, a personality. However, humanity is not connivance, not coddling, but care combined with exactingness. The main thing is not to forget about the dignity of your subordinates, to always feel personal responsibility for their training and education, for their lives.
One of most important tasks officers - to strengthen the patriotic, moral and military education of subordinates.
It is important to ensure that every soldier, every subordinate understands the state significance of the ongoing reform of the Armed Forces, and personal responsibility for maintaining high vigilance and combat readiness. Military personnel must deeply understand that the reduction of the army and navy should not weaken their combat power. It must be supplemented by the growth of the combat skill of each warrior, skillful use of military equipment and weapons, strengthening of military discipline, organization and military law and order.
During the period of reform, when individual units and divisions will be reduced, a careful and economical attitude to a variety of material resources is more important than ever.
And about one more problem. Today, when there is spiritual and political confrontation in society, various forces are trying to influence the army. Involving military personnel in political processes would lead to destabilization in military collectives and would be not only illegal, but in every sense, destructive for the cause of reforming the army and society. Skepticism and discrediting the ideas of military reform and reform of the Armed Forces can cause serious damage to the cause of ensuring the country's national security. But there is no turning back. Behind us is only the degradation and destruction of the army and navy. Ahead, on the path of reform, are the powerful Russian Armed Forces of the 21st century. Great Russia we need a strong, reformed army. Everyone should realize this.
In conclusion, we emphasize once again that the reform of the Russian Armed Forces is a major, historical event in the life of the people and their armed defenders, a big deal of national importance. It is objectively conditioned and natural. The reform will bring the Armed Forces into full compliance with the nature and characteristics of the modern military-political situation and the economic capabilities of the country. The army and navy, having reduced in quantity, will increase their combat effectiveness and combat readiness due to qualitative parameters.
One of the strategic objectives of the reform, as the President of the Russian Federation emphasizes, is to qualitatively improve the lives of military personnel, “... to return military profession the former prestige and respect of Russians.” (Red Star, July 30, 1997).
The reform will contribute to the economic and political stabilization of the country. The objectives of the reform cannot be solved without raising the level of combat readiness, without strengthening military discipline and law and order, without the interested attitude of each military personnel to its successful implementation.
Sample questions for the seminar (conversation):
What caused the need for such a radical reform of the country's Armed Forces?
In what latest performances leadership of the country and the army, and how are the goals and priorities of reform formulated?
Tell us about the main stages of the reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Personnel policy during reform.
Restructuring military education.
Tell us how the defense budget will be adjusted.
What needs to be done to improve the prestige of military service?
What sources of funding are provided to support the reform?
What measures are planned to be taken to ensure social protection of military personnel and members of their families?
Tell us about the tasks of the Armed Forces in modern conditions.
How do you imagine the tasks of your unit, division and your personal ones during the reform?
Literature
1. Constitution of the Russian Federation. - M., 1993.
2. the federal law RF "On Defense". - M., 1996.
3. Address on national security of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly. - Russian newspaper, 1997, March 7.
4. "To active foreign policy and effective military reform" From the message of the President of the Russian Federation Federal Assembly. - Red Star, 1997, March 11.
5. Address of the President of the Russian Federation “To the soldiers of Russia.” - Red Star, 1997, March 28.
6. Answers of the President of the Russian Federation to questions from “Red Star” / “Towards a new look for the army.” - Red Star, 1997, May 7.
7. "Meeting of the Defense Council: the severity of the presidential assessments." - Red Star, 1997, May 23.
8. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation "On priority measures to reform the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and improve their structure." - Red Star, 1997, July 19.
9. Answers from the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General I.D. Sergeev to questions from “Red Star” / “Reforms are our common concern.” - Red Star, 1997, June 27.
10. Sergeev I.D. Speech at a meeting of the Federation Council. - Red Star, 1997, July 5.
11. Sergeev I.D. The new look of the army: realities and prospects. - Red Star, 1997, July 22.
12. Text of radio address by B.N. Yeltsin dated July 25, 1997
13. Address of the President of the Russian Federation, Supreme Commander-in-Chief“To the soldiers of Russia.” - Red Star, 1997, July 30.
14. Sergeev I.D. New Russia, new army. - Red Star, 1997, September 19.
The first decade of the 21st century clearly demonstrated that “color revolutions”, new forms and methods of warfare, the so-called network or, require the state and military leadership of our country to rethink and a certain transformation of the theory and practice of construction Armed Forces, as well as their application in new conditions. Therefore, the need for reform is objective.
According to military researchers, in the history of our state, reforms of the military organization were carried out seven times and the Armed Forces were reformed more than 15 times. And each time the reforms were a very complex, responsible and difficult process.
The state of the Armed Forces by 2008 was characterized by the following general indicators:
The share of formations and military units of permanent readiness: divisions - 25%, brigades - 57%, aviation regiments - 7%;
The number of military base camps is more than 20 thousand;
The number of Armed Forces is 1,134 thousand military personnel, including 350 thousand (31%), 140,000 warrant officers (12%), contract soldiers and sergeants - about 200 thousand (17%);
Equipping with modern weapons, military and special equipment - 3-5%;