Reserve Officer Training in Russia

[3] Initially, the officer, responsible for conducting the higher non-inside-military-unit training in civilian university, was named "military head" (Russian: военный руководитель).

[4] The term "military department" (Russian: военная кафедра) appeared later, when Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union Decree of 13 April 1944 No.413 was promulgated.

[5][6] With the enactment of the Soviet Union Law about universal military duty of 12 October 1967 No.1950-VII,[7] reserve officer training conducting by military departments of civilian higher education institutions became mandatory for all able-bodied male students (and all able-bodied female medical students) of institutions that had such departments.

Truck drivers for example, worked for whatever organization their job is associated with; they could be drivers who shuttle machine parts from their factory in Kiev to outlying areas, but they were also registered with the local civilian transport enterprise (Avtokolonna) who receive requirements from the local Military commissariat (Voenkomat) for a designated number of trucks for mobilization or a particular military exercise.

241 Russian civilian institutions of higher education retained military departments after the Dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Initially, there was a plan of more substantial reduction in the number of military departments, but it had to be abandoned due to dearth of lieutenants associated with regular officers voluntary discharge owing to financial problems of Armed Forces in 1990s, which had to be compensated through reserve officers conscription, which had acquired a particular importance on the background of First Chechen War.

Graduate of the military department was due to be promoted to officer at the same time as his enlisting in the reserve of armed forces.

However, the relevant order of ministry of defence entered into force subject to student’s successful graduation of university in main, civilian degree.

[16] The experience had shown that graduates of military departments were not so good at drilling, fire training and management of personnel as career officers.

In 2005, minister of defence Sergei Ivanov announced the forthcoming significant reduction in the number of military departments carrying out the training commissioned officers from among students of civilian institutions of higher education.

Conscription of reserve officers was abolished (with exception of short-dated military camps in peaceful time and wartime mobilization).

[25] The procedure of military training centers enrollment is regulated by the Order of the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation of 26 August 2020 No.400.

Students, passed the competitive selection, sign the contracts and are enrolled in military training center by the rector's order.

Those who successfully pass final exams are promoted to lieutenant rank, with the order entered into force only after graduation from university (main civilian specialty).

Those who studied at officers for active duty program are obliged to serve in Russian Armed Forces 3 years at least under the conditions of the signed contracts.

Those who studied at reserve officers program are not to obliged to serve and are enrolled in mobilization human resource immediately after a graduation.

However, they are subject to mobilization in wartime and short-term military training in peacetime on involuntary basis as regulated by law.