Myths about the army ... Tales of "professionals" and draftees ...
I must immediately say - I am outraged by the use of the phrase "PROFESSIONAL Army", in the sense that is now being put into this expression - that is, the army formed and recruited on a voluntary basis, by "hiring" or contractual service. The person who first thought of using this phrase in the open spaces of our Motherland should be erected by a monument to those who are interested in the collapse of the Russian armed forces and in discrediting the very concept of “military service”! It is not known who was the first who “threw” this term into the public consciousness, but he continued to mislead the majority of the inhabitants of our country when picked up by the media.
And so - Myth One:
"PROFESSIONAL ARMY" ... as in America (USA). Let them serve only those who pay a lot of money for this?
In Russian, “professional” is a person who is engaged in something professionally (as opposed to an amateur), who has mastered certain knowledge and skills in a particular profession and specialty. That is, Russian officers who have received a higher education in the military field (and often not one!), Who devote their lives to military service, are NOT “professionals”? We will not dwell now on their level of professionalism and payment for their difficult and dangerous profession, this is another topic. By the way, in the US Army it is not customary to use the expression “professional” in relation to the rank and file! Only in relation to the officer corps and part of the sergeant. They understand the price and the meaning of this word well! But Americans also do not call their army “professional,” even in the sense adopted by us. In contrast to the opinion formed by our media and illiterate officials "from the army", the US armed forces do not consist ONLY of people who serve only for hire (contract)! A significant part of their armed forces consists of the National Guard, which is of a militia nature - these are CIVILIAN, which, in addition to their main “peaceful” profession, master military specialties, and must give four-hour classes and monthly camp fees annually to their homeland 48. In addition, the army has the right to bring them once every five years on 12 months directly to military service! During military operations in the Persian Gulf 1991, the National Guard fought along with other units of the US armed forces. About 63 thousand guardsmen participated in the battles. In Iraq, their number was about a third of ALL US units! The National Guard, in essence, is, in spite of its super-modern armament, the people's militia (militia), the necessity of which the founding fathers of the United States considered necessary for the preservation of American democracy. That is why the national guard is completed on a territorial basis and is in dual subordination - the government and local authorities (states). However, no one has yet canceled the system for training reservists in the US ...
Myth Two: We want a “professional” (mercenary, contractual) army ... as in the West!
And this is one of the biggest misconceptions instilled in us by the media! Most armies of Western countries, formed on the basis of a CALL! This and the German army, recognized as the best in Europe today, is the Bundeswehr! Currently, all adult citizens of the country are obligatorily served in Germany (9 months of military service or alternative labor service in social and charitable organizations). All men aged from 18 to 45 years are liable for military service, and in the case of the country's defense - to 60 years. On the basis of the CALL, armies of the countries of Northern Europe — Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and also Germany, Spain, Greece, etc. — are being formed. Well, about the army of Israel here and say no. Yes, in most of these countries - a mixed form of recruiting an army - conscription and contract, but none of them canceled the duty to protect their country with their citizens. In prosperous Switzerland, ALL men aged from 19 to 31 of the year recognized as eligible for military service by the medical council are required to serve in the Swiss armed forces. And after its graduation, they CONTINUE to periodically attend military training and refresher courses until 51goda, and at home they keep an assault rifle with ammunition, a helmet and uniform issued to them by the state. And they don’t ask themselves - against whom to fight the Swiss army, they simply consider protection of their country as their duty. And EVERYTHING - from bankers and officials to loaders and locksmiths ... And therefore they are able to deploy from 22-thousand permanent army in two to four hours (!) 650-thousandth, and in two days 1.7-million (!) Army, perfectly trained, organized , and very well armed ... For which Switzerland spends, by the way, about 20% of its budget - almost five billion (!!!) dollars per 7.5 million population ...
In Russia, the noisy slogan "Give a professional army!", Sounded from the pages of the media and found its implementation in the notorious decree of the President of Russia No. 722 of 16 in May 1996. ", Was based not on studying the VALID experience of foreign countries, not on a clear analysis of economic and political opportunities, but on the populism of the Authorities. The result of the reforms being carried out in the army is no secret to anyone. Destroying an outdated and backward army, the Authority creates an Ineffective MUTANTA, unable to not raise a military professional, not to protect OUR Homeland!
And so - Myth One:
"PROFESSIONAL ARMY" ... as in America (USA). Let them serve only those who pay a lot of money for this?
In Russian, “professional” is a person who is engaged in something professionally (as opposed to an amateur), who has mastered certain knowledge and skills in a particular profession and specialty. That is, Russian officers who have received a higher education in the military field (and often not one!), Who devote their lives to military service, are NOT “professionals”? We will not dwell now on their level of professionalism and payment for their difficult and dangerous profession, this is another topic. By the way, in the US Army it is not customary to use the expression “professional” in relation to the rank and file! Only in relation to the officer corps and part of the sergeant. They understand the price and the meaning of this word well! But Americans also do not call their army “professional,” even in the sense adopted by us. In contrast to the opinion formed by our media and illiterate officials "from the army", the US armed forces do not consist ONLY of people who serve only for hire (contract)! A significant part of their armed forces consists of the National Guard, which is of a militia nature - these are CIVILIAN, which, in addition to their main “peaceful” profession, master military specialties, and must give four-hour classes and monthly camp fees annually to their homeland 48. In addition, the army has the right to bring them once every five years on 12 months directly to military service! During military operations in the Persian Gulf 1991, the National Guard fought along with other units of the US armed forces. About 63 thousand guardsmen participated in the battles. In Iraq, their number was about a third of ALL US units! The National Guard, in essence, is, in spite of its super-modern armament, the people's militia (militia), the necessity of which the founding fathers of the United States considered necessary for the preservation of American democracy. That is why the national guard is completed on a territorial basis and is in dual subordination - the government and local authorities (states). However, no one has yet canceled the system for training reservists in the US ...
Myth Two: We want a “professional” (mercenary, contractual) army ... as in the West!
And this is one of the biggest misconceptions instilled in us by the media! Most armies of Western countries, formed on the basis of a CALL! This and the German army, recognized as the best in Europe today, is the Bundeswehr! Currently, all adult citizens of the country are obligatorily served in Germany (9 months of military service or alternative labor service in social and charitable organizations). All men aged from 18 to 45 years are liable for military service, and in the case of the country's defense - to 60 years. On the basis of the CALL, armies of the countries of Northern Europe — Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and also Germany, Spain, Greece, etc. — are being formed. Well, about the army of Israel here and say no. Yes, in most of these countries - a mixed form of recruiting an army - conscription and contract, but none of them canceled the duty to protect their country with their citizens. In prosperous Switzerland, ALL men aged from 19 to 31 of the year recognized as eligible for military service by the medical council are required to serve in the Swiss armed forces. And after its graduation, they CONTINUE to periodically attend military training and refresher courses until 51goda, and at home they keep an assault rifle with ammunition, a helmet and uniform issued to them by the state. And they don’t ask themselves - against whom to fight the Swiss army, they simply consider protection of their country as their duty. And EVERYTHING - from bankers and officials to loaders and locksmiths ... And therefore they are able to deploy from 22-thousand permanent army in two to four hours (!) 650-thousandth, and in two days 1.7-million (!) Army, perfectly trained, organized , and very well armed ... For which Switzerland spends, by the way, about 20% of its budget - almost five billion (!!!) dollars per 7.5 million population ...
In Russia, the noisy slogan "Give a professional army!", Sounded from the pages of the media and found its implementation in the notorious decree of the President of Russia No. 722 of 16 in May 1996. ", Was based not on studying the VALID experience of foreign countries, not on a clear analysis of economic and political opportunities, but on the populism of the Authorities. The result of the reforms being carried out in the army is no secret to anyone. Destroying an outdated and backward army, the Authority creates an Ineffective MUTANTA, unable to not raise a military professional, not to protect OUR Homeland!
Information