IMHO, Kalugin & anyone else, have questions ref handling of new Russian recruits

[John Kettler]

Mods,

If this isn't in the right place, please move it.

Guys,

Recently saw the dark and hilarious Russian military comedy Demobbed and was surprised by the lack of any facility for basic training, boot camp, etc. Instead, our hapless Russian Federation recruits go straight from interview, med exam, tests and being peeled like grapes by the barber, and are escorted and delivered by a warrant officer to their unit. After some unknown number of weeks, they finally are squared away and take the Military Oath. Was I looking at artistic license in the film, or is there really only training once in the unit, rather than huge training establishments to teach core service skills? Does Osoviakhim or something similar now obviate the need for US style large group training?  Genuinely want to know and would appreciate your insights. Thanks!

Regards,

John Kettler

[BornGinger]

You were watching a Russian comedy. I'm not sure you should take it seriously and with "face value" or what I should call it.

[HUSKER2142]

@John Kettler Demobbed "ДМБ" - this is a funny banter about the army, but close to what it was in 90s and early 2000s. My senior commanders told me what was happening in the army in the 90s, I wanted to laugh and cry. 

[Nektoman]

I was in service as a private in 2003-2005 in a small regiment. I wasn't building generals cottages (of what the generals in Russia are often accused) but we really had much guard and fatigue-duties. We had trainings in a field camp several times a year for 1 day, usually it was shooting practice, or we've been seeking someone in the forest. My regiment hadn't its own training camp, but I think that a smart and motivated officer could train his soldiers in these conditions. First of all, it's a matter of will.

As far as I know, military specialist (tank crews for example) take training course during several months in specialized training units before they come to a regiment. 

 

Edited July 11, 2021 by Nektoman

[John Kettler]

On 6/30/2021 at 2:57 PM, BornGinger said:

You were watching a Russian comedy. I'm not sure you should take it seriously and with "face value" or what I should call it.

BornGinger,

Am well aware of that fact, but I wanted to see whether there was any truth to the to me unusual approach to training depicted in that comedy.

Regards,

John Kettler

Edited July 12, 2021 by John Kettler

[John Kettler]

On 7/1/2021 at 8:00 AM, HUSKER2142 said:

@John Kettler Demobbed "ДМБ" - this is a funny banter about the army, but close to what it was in 90s and early 2000s. My senior commanders told me what was happening in the army in the 90s, I wanted to laugh and cry. 

Husker2142,

Did you ever see, hear or read about shipping raw recruits directly to the receiving unit, rather than going through basic training (or similar) at a large dedicated recruit training facility? Seems like the Red Army of the early 90s and early 2000 was much like the US Army in the aftermath of the Vietnam War--a huge mess, made far worse by a host of high leverage related issues.

Regards,

John Kettler

[John Kettler]

13 hours ago, Nektoman said:

I was in service as a private in 2003-2005 in a small regiment. I wasn't building generals cottages (of what the generals in Russia are often accused) but we really had much guard and fatigue-duties. We had trainings in a field camp several times a year for 1 day, usually it was shooting practice, or we've been seeking someone in the forest. My regiment hadn't its own training camp, but I think that a smart and motivated officer could train his soldiers in these conditions. First of all, it's a matter of will.

As far as I know, military specialist (tank crews for example) take training course during several months in specialized training units before they come to a regiment. 

 

Nektoman,

If I understood you correctly, you seem to be saying that some units, such as your Motor Rifle Regiment, did take in raw recruits and train them inside the unit,? And troops requiring specialized skills were trained elsewhere before being assigned to their actual units? If those things are right, then the comedy in question depicted a real practice but in the wrong kind of unit, for if ever there was a unit requiring specialized training, it would be the Strategic Rocket Troops. Have read the SRT, of all the branches of the Red Army, had the top choice when it came to getting the smart recruits, and the exacting nature and danger of the work certainly isn't something I'd let a raw recruit anywhere near. During the Cold War, a mechanic fropped a wrech while working on a Titan II ICBM in its closed silo. The wrench hit something on the way down, bounced into the side of the liquid fueled huge missile, pierced one of the tanks and BOOM! The explosion was so powerful it blew the 50 ton sliding cover clean off the silo. That's with a highly trained missile technician!

Regards,

John Kettler

[Nektoman]

Yes, but we didn't need really qualified specialists in our regiment. We had only sergeants (conscripts too), trained in a special training unit for the sergeant staff and then coming to our regiment. Truckdrivers (we had only tracks, not IFVs) were licensed before conscription.

I think that soviet education allowed it because a high percentage of conscripts was qualified in professional colleges before conscription. As far as the military conscription was comprehensive, Soviet Army was never lacking qualified conscripts.

Regarding SRT, I think they have not only best conscripts, but the percentage of specially educated officers was always very high in this corps.

[HUSKER2142]

On 7/12/2021 at 4:55 AM, John Kettler said:

Did you ever see, hear or read about shipping raw recruits directly to the receiving unit, rather than going through basic training (or similar) at a large dedicated recruit training facility? Seems like the Red Army of the early 90s and early 2000 was much like the US Army in the aftermath of the Vietnam War--a huge mess, made far worse by a host of high leverage related issues.

 

I have not read, but saw how it was in 2008-2010. Soldiers who did not require specialized training (shooter, machine gunner, grenade launcher) were sent immediately to the active military unit. Maximum of such soldiers passed the YOUNG FIGHTER COURSE for 1 month. Then they received experience during military service, this applied to both a conscript and a serviceman. In fact, the training of soldiers then turned a blind eye still. And then BUM burst out in the middle of 2010 with big reforms, then a lot of people were fired due to non-compliance with military service.

After 2010, for military specialties that do not require special training, the COURSE of a YOUNG FIGHTER was increased to 2-3 months. And the serviceman were required to additionally undergo a survival course for 1.5 months, the conscripts were not required to do this. 

For specialists, the training period remained before 6 months. Unless, of course, this is a highly specialized military position.

YOUNG FIGHTER COURSE is a course during which a soldier is prepared physically, emotionally and mentally for military service. The soldier literally breaks his previous thinking and adapts to military service. The soldiers are taught how to respond correctly to commands, how to walk correctly in a squad-platoon-company formation. And they give basic knowledge of the AK-74 / PKM / RPG-7 weapon used.

SURVIVAL COURSE - they teach you how to survive with a minimum of tools and then throw you into a deep forest / mountains / steppe on the seashore for 2-3 weeks. Those who can't stand it are given another chance, and if they can't stand it again they are dismissed from the service. 

Edited July 23, 2021 by HUSKER2142