Contrary to popular belief that defending the homeland is an occupation only for men, more and more women are joining the Russian army. Many women soldiers are hardy, hardworking, not afraid to take up arms. Often they relate to the commander’s tasks much more responsibly than male colleagues.
Why do young girls agree and even strive to become military personnel? What educational institutions do they enter for this? Are there army specialties suitable for women? We will try to answer these questions in detail.
The state is interested in female military personnel
Currently, there are approximately 100,000 women in the Russian army and navy. Half of them are in military posts, half in civilian posts. Girls in peacetime are not subject to compulsory draft in the army. They serve only on their own, on a contract basis.
One of the strategic goals of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation after 2010 is to arouse interest in the fair sex in military service. Due to the fact that many men do not want to join the army and try in different ways to avoid fulfilling a civil duty, a lot of vacancies are being formed in the Russian armed forces. Women who are ready to serve help solve the problem of manning the army. Due to the growing number of women in the ranks of defenders of the Fatherland, the armed forces of the Russian Federation are becoming more progressive and diversified.
The State Duma is preparing a bill according to which subpoenas from military enlistment offices will be sent to girls who have reached the age of 18 years. However, women will decide on their own whether to go to serve.
Why do girls want to join the army
It turns out that there are quite a few young women who are ready to become defenders of the Fatherland. In military schools, a large competition for "ladies" specialties is often formed: up to 10 applicants for a place. What motives most often encourage women to become military personnel?
1. Many girls want to join the army, because they are real patriots of Russia. They want to defend their homeland and consider military affairs their vocation.
2. Some women consider military service as a way to advance up the social ladder. This motive is especially common among women planning to build a political career.
3. Spouses of defenders of the homeland, living in parts and closed towns, often master military professions. For them, as a rule, there is no other way to go to work.
4. Some of the young girls go to military schools at the insistence of parents who want to raise a high moral character in their daughters. Mothers and fathers rightly believe that by learning army art, their daughters will acquire such valuable qualities as determination, willpower, and self-strictness. As a rule, in this case, the parents do not insist that the girls remain in military service after graduation. Nevertheless, many young women are “drawn in” and continue to work on a voluntary basis in their specialty.
5. For some girls, mastering military affairs becomes the only way to obtain higher education if there are no universities of a different profile in the village.
6. Many young women entering the service thus seek to increase their chances of marriage. In military units, they work together with young men and are often surrounded by the attention of fans.
Some representatives of the fair sex on the forums note that women, along with men, must be compulsory draft in the army. Ladies believe that this will help them gain the necessary self-defense skills, learn how to handle weapons and provide first aid. In addition, many young girls are ready to serve because, if necessary, the fair sex will also have to defend their homeland.
What vacancies in the armed forces of the Russian Federation can women be taken
There is a list of military specialties for women, approved by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The text of the document is classified. It is known, however, that representatives of the weaker sex cannot be involved in hostilities at the forefront. Women soldiers participate in battles only in case of emergency. In the army, they play the role of rear workers.
What military specialties are provided for women?
- Medical: military doctor, paramedic, nurse, pharmacist, pharmacist.
- Technical: master, mechanic, machine operator.
- In the field of communications: telephone operator, telegraph operator, radio operator, radio mechanic, military signalman.
- In the field of observation of the terrain: cartographer, meteorologist, meteorological observer or hydrometeorological observer, surveyor, theodolitzer.
- In the field of photogrammetry: photogrammetrist, photo lab.
- In the field of printing: engraver, master technician of printing machines, zincograph.
A promising specialty for a girl is a military signalman. Many women become indispensable in the army due to the ability to use various hardware to provide communications. They transmit signals, most often encrypted, using telegraph, television, telephone, telecode and signal communications. It is thanks to the high-quality work of these specialists that the military personnel timely receive orders from command centers and operational information.
Popular among women are military specialties, which can conditionally be considered safe: translator, psychologist, teacher, lawyer, economist, researcher.
Women's military ranks
It is no secret that the ranks of the Russian army are assigned in accordance with the level of qualification and positions held. After graduating from a military university, a graduate becomes an officer. Theoretically, a woman can receive any title, depending on the length of service and personal achievements.
But in practice, ladies who work in units rarely receive high ranks of the Russian army. 25% of women soldiers are warrant officers by their midshipmen. Ladies in the civil service in the police, prosecutors, tax services, and the FSB achieve a higher status (up to the rank of general).
Military educational institutions
Currently, only women with a military specialty, that is, graduates from special educational institutions, are registered with the military. The Ministry of Defense, depending on the needs of the armed forces for personnel, annually regulates the number of places in universities and colleges for girls. Therefore, planning a military career for the fairer sex is difficult, because in the year of graduation, admission to the desired specialty may be closed.
What educational institutions are ready to consider female applicants? The best known are:
1. Military Medical Academy named after S. M. Kirov, St. Petersburg (there is a branch in Moscow). This university provides training for medical paramedics and doctors. The Academy has two areas of work:
- training medical specialists from scratch,
- advanced training of civilian doctors.
A girl can get education in the specialties of "medical business", "pharmacy", "medical and preventive business", "dentistry".
The S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy offers full-time training programs for paramedics (3 years) and doctors (6 years). The university has scientific departments.
2. Military Academy of Communications named after Marshal of the Soviet Union S. M. Budyonny, St. Petersburg. The university provides secondary vocational (military technician) and higher (military engineer) education. Experts in the field of communication systems, switching, and software of the armed forces emerge from its walls.
The full-time study at the academy is 5 years. Upon graduation, the girl receives the rank of lieutenant. The secondary education program is designed for a period of 2 years 10 months. A graduate is awarded the title of ensign.
3. Civil Defense Academy of the Ministry of Emergencies of Russia, Moscow - an excellent military institute for girls. The fair sex can be trained here in the specialties of a military psychologist, translator, lawyer, teacher, economist, personnel officer. There are full-time and correspondence courses.
4. Military University of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (Moscow) prepares specialists for work in “hot spots”. After graduating from a university, you can get the specialty of a criminalist, military journalist, translator, orchestra musician. According to the documentation, the university accepts girls. However, in practice, according to the leadership, the recruitment of women has not been done for a long time, since the 90s.
5. The Academy of Management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (Moscow) prepares specialists for service in the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The university is also engaged in continuing education for existing staff.
6. The Air Force Academy named after Professor N. Ye. Zhukovsky and Yu. A. Gagarin (Voronezh) trains meteorologists, radio technicians, security specialists in automated and information systems, air traffic controllers, and logistics support workers. Upon graduation, the qualification “engineer” is awarded.
7. Volsky military institute of material support (Volsk, Saratov region). The university is preparing logistics specialists to provide troops. There are quite a few female students.
In general, in Russia there are about 20 military schools that are ready to accept girls for training. There are specialized educational institutions in Rostov, Penza, Stavropol. Cadets studying at universities reporting to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation receive monthly allowances in the amount of 10 to 25 thousand rubles.
Military institutes do not accept women for training:
- previously convicted;
- not eligible to perform military service under the law before the expiration of any period;
- registered in neuropsychiatric dispensaries;
- having medical contraindications for military service.
Women's Legal Rights in the Army
Women military personnel are endowed, basically, with the same rights as men. However, their legal status has its own characteristics. In particular, women in military units should be provided with separate rooms for men from sleeping, resting, and changing their wardrobe. Such punishment as disciplinary arrest does not apply to ladies in the service: they do not sit on guardhouse.
The main document, which fully spells out the rights and obligations of the military, including women, is the Federal Law of 1998 on the status of military personnel. In it, the fair sex does not stand out in a separate category. All provisions relating to men are equally valid for women.
According to this document, the fair sex receive benefits granted to military personnel, including:
- treatment, getting medicines for free or at a reduced cost;
- extended holidays (up to a maximum of 45 days per year);
- housing subsidies;
- benefits for education for children, primary admission to educational institutions;
- retirement of military personnel.
Pregnant and childbirth rights of a female soldier
Pregnant women military personnel are completely exempted from physical activity. They are also entitled to free medical care in specialized institutions. With a gestation period of up to 20 weeks, if there are no complications, a female soldier visits the gynecologist once a month at the place of registration. For a period of 20 to 30 weeks, the frequency of visits to antenatal clinics is at least 1 time in 2 weeks. For periods of more than 30 weeks, the frequency of visits to the gynecologist is at least 1 time per week. A female soldier of the Russian Federation receives a birth certificate and child care allowance. For two months before and after childbirth, they are also given an additional cash allowance. Pregnant women military personnel are entitled to parental leave up to 3 years.
At what age can a woman serve
Representatives of the weaker sex "work" in the ranks of the armed forces on the basis of fixed-term contracts. The first “agreement” a woman can conclude with a military unit at the age of not less than 20 and not more than 40 years. The contract service life is 3.5 or 10 years, depending on the position and rank. Further, if the lady properly fulfills the terms of the contract and wishes to continue the service, the “agreement” is extended. The age limit of women soldiers to which they can continue to serve the fatherland is 50 years.
Physical training
FIZO women military personnel is supported by the command of the units at a high level. Ladies serving in the army train daily. Women contracted soldiers must be consistent with their “work” in terms of health and physical fitness. Ladies pass standards for FIZO:
- upon admission to universities of a special profile;
- in the course of training, quarterly;
- upon conclusion of a fixed-term contract;
- during the course of service - quarterly.
Mandatory standards for women soldiers are approved by Order of the Ministry of Defense. Ladies, to confirm their compliance with the requirements of the army, perform 3 blocks of exercises.
By force.
One of two options is performed:
1. Flexion and extension of the arms while lying down :
- for women under the age of 25 years, a minimum of 12 times,
- for women over the age of 25, a minimum of 10 times.
2. Torso forward:
- for women under the age of 25 years, a minimum of 25 times,
- for women over the age of 25 years, a minimum of 20 times.
For speed.
One of three options is performed:
1. 60m running:
- for women under the age of 25, the standard time to overcome the distance is 12.9 s;
- for women over the age of 25, the standard time to overcome the distance is 13.9.
2. Running on 100 meters:
- for women under the age of 25 years, the standard time to overcome the distance is 19.5 s;
- for women over the age of 25, the standard time to overcome the distance is 20.5 s.
3. Shuttle run 10 * 10 m:
- for women under the age of 25 years, the minimum standard is to run a distance in 38 s;
- for women over the age of 25 years, the minimum standard is to run a distance of 39 s.
On endurance.
Exercise - running for 1 km:
- for women under the age of 25, the standard time to overcome the distance is 5 minutes. 20 sec
- for women over the age of 25, the standard time to overcome the distance is 5 minutes. 46 sec
Women over 40 years old are not involved in the delivery of physical standards.
Dress
For women in the service, as well as for men, the wearing of a uniform is mandatory. You can wear other types of clothing only during the holidays, on weekends, during the holidays and outside the military unit, if the exit is not related to the performance of an assignment.
The uniform of women soldiers was approved by order of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and is sewn by authorized factories. She can be given to a lady for free by a military unit or purchased by her independently in a specialized store.
A military uniform may not be worn by a civilian who does not have the right to do so. It is also forbidden to wear uniforms and insignia that do not correspond to rank and position.
The style of women's workwear was developed by Russian fashion designer V. Yudashkin.
Field forms of the form are sewn from membrane tissues using nanotechnology. Military overalls neatly sits on a female figure and does not constrain movements.
Successful careers for women
The most grandiose career of a military woman, which the whole world remembers, is the professional path of Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova, who single-handedly made a three-day space flight on the Vostok-5 ship. Tereshkova reached the top rank of Major General by starting her seniority as a bracelet worker at the Yaroslavl Tire Plant.
Currently, many successful female military personnel work in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Among them: Deputy Minister of Defense Tatyana Shevtsova (engaged in the economic bloc), head of the apparatus of the Minister of Defense Elena Kalnaya, press secretary of the Minister of Defense - Lt. Col. Irina Kovalchuk, head of the military education system - Ekaterina Priezheva.
Conclusion
Now you know how women military personnel build their careers. Currently, the work of most of them is considered not too prestigious.All privileges, such as high ranks, interesting assignments, status positions in the armed forces are mainly given to men. However, now the number of women in the Russian army is increasing, and gradually their legal status is changing for the better.