Women in the military: education, professions, rights and obligations

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Contrary to popular belief that defending the Motherland is an occupation only for men, more and more representatives of the fair sex are joining the ranks of the Russian army. Many female servicemen are hardy, hardworking, and not afraid to take up arms. Often, they are much more responsible for the execution of the tasks of the commander than their male counterparts.

Why do young girls agree and even aspire to become military personnel? What schools do they go to? Are there military speci alties 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 army and navy of the Russian Federation. Half of them are in military positions, half in civilian positions. Girls in peacetime are not subject to mandatory conscription into the army. They serve only of their own accord, 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 military service among the fair sex. Due to the fact that many men do not want to join the army and try in various ways to avoid fulfilling their civic duty, many vacancies are formed in the Russian armed forces. Women who are ready to serve help solve the problem of staffing the army. Thanks to the growing number of women in the ranks of the 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 girls who have reached the age of 18 will be sent agendas from military registration and enlistment offices. However, it is up to the women to decide whether or not to serve.

Why 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 educational institutions, there is often a big competition for "ladies'" speci alties: up to 10 applicants for a place. What motives most often motivate the fairer sex to become military personnel?

1. Many girls want to join the army because they are true patriots of Russia. They want to defend their homeland and consider military affairs to be their vocation.

2. Some members of the fair sex see military service as a way to move up the social ladder. This motive is especially common among women planning to build a political career.

3. Spouses of the defenders of the Motherland, living in units and closed towns, often master military professions. There is usually no other way for them to go to work.

4. Some young girls enter military universities at the insistence of parents who want to instill a high moral character in their daughters. Mothers and fathers rightly believe that by studying the art of the army, their daughters will acquire such valuable qualities as purposefulness, willpower, and strictness towards themselves. As a rule, in this case, parents do not insist that girls remain in military service after graduation. However, many young women are pulled in and continue to volunteer in their profession.

5. For some girls, mastering the military becomes the only way to get a higher education if there are no universities of a different profile in the locality.

6. Many young women entering the service seek to improve their chances of marriage in this way. In military units, they work together with young men and are often surrounded by the attention of fans.

Some of the fair sex on the forums note that women, along with men, should be subject to mandatory conscription into the army. Ladies believe that this will help them acquire 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.

Whatvacancies in the armed forces of the Russian Federation can be accepted by women

There is a list of military speci alties for women, approved by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The text of the document is classified. It is known, however, that the representatives of the weaker sex should not be involved in combat operations on the front line. Female soldiers participate in battles only when absolutely necessary. In the army, they perform the role of home front workers.

What military speci alties are provided for the fairer sex?

1. Medical: military doctor, paramedic, nurse, pharmacist, pharmacist.
2. Technical: foreman, mechanic, machine operator.
3. In the field of communications: telephone operator, telegraph operator, radio operator, radio mechanic, military communications operator.
4. In the field of observation of the terrain: cartographer, meteorologist, meteorological or hydrometeorological observer, topographic surveyor, theodolite.
5. In the field of photogrammetry: photogrammetrist, photolaborator.
6. In the field of printing: an engraver, a master adjuster of printing machines, a zincograph.

A promising speci alty 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 military personnel receive orders from command centers and operational information in a timely manner.

Popular among women aremilitary speci alties that can conditionally be considered safe: translator, psychologist, teacher, lawyer, economist, researcher.

Military ranks of women

It's no secret that the ranks of the Russian army are assigned in accordance with the level of qualifications and positions held. After graduating from a military university, the graduate becomes an officer. Theoretically, a woman can receive any rank, depending on the length of service and personal achievements.

But in practice, ladies working in units rarely receive high ranks in the Russian army. 25% of female military personnel are ensigns and midshipmen. A higher status (up to the rank of general) is achieved by ladies in the civil service in the police, prosecutor's office, tax service, FSB.

Military schools

Currently, only women with a military registration speci alty, that is, graduates of special educational institutions, are registered for military service. The Ministry of Defense, depending on the needs of the armed forces in personnel, annually regulates the number of places in universities and colleges for girls. Therefore, it is difficult for a representative of the weaker sex to plan a military career, because in the year of graduation from school, admission to the desired speci alty may be closed.

Which 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 professional training for military paramedics and doctors. The academy has two areas of work:

• training medical professionals from scratch,
• training of civilian doctors.

A girl can get an education in general medicine, pharmacy, preventive medicine, 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. Its walls are specialists in the field of communication systems, switching, software of the armed forces.

The term of full-fledged training 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. The graduate is awarded the rank of ensign.

3. The Academy of Civil Protection of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, Moscow is an excellent military institute for girls. The fair sex can study here in the speci alties of a military psychologist, translator, lawyer, teacher, economist, personnel officer. There are full-time and part-time forms of education.

4. The Military University of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (Moscow) trains specialists to work in "hot spots". After graduating from high school, you can get the speci alty of a criminologist, military journalist, translator, orchestra musician. According to the documentation, the university accepts girls. However, in practice, assays management, female recruiting hasn't been done in quite some time, since the 90s.

5. The Academy of Management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (Moscow) trains specialists for service in the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The university is also engaged in advanced training of existing personnel.

6. The Air Force Academy named after Professors N. E. Zhukovsky and Yu. A. Gagarin (Voronezh) trains meteorologists, radio technicians, specialists in the security of automated and information systems, air traffic controllers, logistics workers in the provision of weapons. Upon graduation, the qualification "engineer" is awarded.

7. Volsky Military Institute of Material Support (Volsk, Saratov Region). The university trains logistics specialists to provide troops. There are quite a few female students here.

In general, there are about 20 military universities in Russia that are ready to accept girls for training. There are specialized educational institutions in Rostov, Penza, Stavropol. Cadets studying at universities accountable to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation receive monthly allowances in the amount of 10,000 to 25,000 rubles.

Military institutions do not accept women for training:

• previously convicted;
• who are not eligible to do military service by law before the expiration of any period;
• registered in neuropsychiatric dispensaries;
• having medical contraindications to military service.

Legal rights for women in the military

Women in the military have basically the same rights as men. However,their legal status has its own peculiarities. In particular, women in military units should be provided with rooms separate from men for sleeping, resting, changing clothes. Ladies in the service are not subject to such a form of punishment as a disciplinary arrest: they do not sit in a guardhouse.

The main document that fully defines the rights and obligations of the military, including women, is the 1998 Federal Law on the status of military personnel. In it, the fair sex is not distinguished into a separate category. All provisions applicable to men apply equally to women.

According to this document, the fair sex receives benefits due to military personnel, including:

• treatment, free or reduced cost medicines;
• extended holidays (up to a maximum of 45 days per year);
• housing subsidies;
• education benefits for children, priority admission to schools;
• military pensions.

The rights of a woman in the military related to pregnancy and childbirth

Pregnant military women are completely exempt from physical activity. They are also en titled to free medical care in specialized institutions. With a gestational age of up to 20 weeks, if there are no complications, a female soldier visits a gynecologist once a month at the place of registration. With a period of 20 to 30 weeks, the frequency of visits to the antenatal clinic is at least 1 time in 2weeks. With a period of more than 30 weeks, the frequency of visits to the gynecologist is at least 1 time per week. A Russian servicewoman receives a birth certificate and a child care allowance. For two months before and after childbirth, they are also given additional allowance. Pregnant military women are en titled to parental leave up to 3 years.

At what age can a woman serve

The fairer 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 at least 20 and no more than 40 years. The term of service under the contract is 3, 5 or 10 years, depending on the position and rank. Further, if the lady duly fulfills the terms of the contract and wishes to continue the service, the "agreement" is extended. The age limit for women in the military until which they can continue to serve the fatherland is 50.

Physical fitness

PHYSO of female military personnel is supported by the command of the units at a high level. Ladies serving in the army train daily. Female contract soldiers must match their "job" in terms of he alth and fitness levels. Ladies pass the standards for PHYSICAL:

• when applying to universities of a special profile;
• in training, quarterly;
• when concluding a fixed-term contract;
• in service - quarterly.

Required standards forwomen soldiers are approved by the Order of the Ministry of Defense. Ladies, to confirm their compliance with the requirements of the army, perform 3 blocks of exercises.

For strength.

One of two options is performed:

1. Flexion and extension of the arms in an emphasis lying:

• for women under the age of 25 at least 12 times,
• for women over the age of 25, at least 10 times.

2. Forward torso:

• for women under the age of 25 at least 25 times,
• for women over the age of 25, at least 20 times.

To speed.

Perform one of three options:

1. 60m run:

• 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. 100m run:

• for women under the age of 25, 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 1010m:

• for women under the age of 25, the minimum standard is to run the distance in 38 s;
• for women over the age of 25, the minimum requirement is to run the distance in 39 seconds.

Stamina.

Exercise - 1 km run:

• 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 5min. 46 sec

Women over 40 years of age are not involved in the delivery of physical standards.

Dress code

For women in the service, as well as for men, it is mandatory to wear a uniform. You can wear other types of clothing only during rest, on weekends, during vacations and outside the military unit, if the exit is not related to the performance of a service assignment.

The uniform of female servicemen is approved by order of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and is sewn by authorized factories. It can be issued to a lady free of charge by a military unit or purchased by her independently in a specialized store.

Military uniforms cannot be worn by civilians who are not authorized to do so. It is also forbidden to wear a uniform and insignia that do not correspond to the rank and position.

The style of women's overalls was developed by Russian fashion designer V. Yudashkin.

Field types of uniforms are sewn from membrane fabrics using nanotechnology. Military uniform sits neatly on the female figure and does not restrict movement.

Successful careers of female military personnel

The most grandiose career of a military woman, which the whole world remembers, is the professional path of Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova, who alone made a three-day space flight on the Vostok-5 spacecraft. Tereshkova reached the highest rank of Major General, starting her seniority as a "bracelet" at the Yaroslavl Tire Plant.

Currently, many successful female servicemen work in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. In theirincluding: Deputy Minister of Defense Tatyana Shevtsova (dealing with the economic block), Head of the Office of the Minister of Defense Elena Kalnaya, Press Secretary of the Minister of Defense - Lieutenant Colonel Irina Kovalchuk, Head of the military education system - Ekaterina Priezzheva.

Conclusion

Now you know how women in the military build their careers. Currently, the work of most of them is considered not very prestigious. All privileges, such as high ranks, interesting assignments, status positions, in the armed forces are predominantly 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.