Section IV. Conscription of citizens for military service

Who are conscripts and those liable for military service?

In accordance with the Regulations on military registration, approved. By Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of November 27, 2006 No. 719, the following are subject to military registration:

• conscripts are male citizens aged 18 to 27 years, who are required to be registered with the military and are not in the reserves,
• as well as others persons liable for military service, which include:

  men in reserve, including those discharged from military service;

• who have successfully completed training in military training centers at universities or military universities under military training programs for reserve officers, sergeants, reserve foremen or military training programs for reserve soldiers and sailors;
• university graduates who have successfully completed military departments in training programs for officers, sergeants, foremen, soldiers or reserve sailors;
• those who have not completed military service due to exemption from conscription;
• those who have not completed military service due to the provision of deferments from conscription for military service or who have not been called up for military service for any other reasons, upon reaching the age of 27 years;
• have completed alternative civil service;
• women with military qualifications.

Women can be registered with the military if they have received training in the following specialties:

• communications - installers, telephone operators, telegraph operators, radio operators, specialists in the field of radio engineering, radio-electronic systems, etc.;
• computer technology - computer operators, electromechanics for computer repair and maintenance, specialists in the field of computer science, computer technology, etc.;
• optical and sound measuring instruments and meteorology - opticians, specialists in the field of hydrology, geodesy, meteorology, etc.;
• medicine - doctors, pharmacists, nursing and pharmaceutical personnel;
• printing - engravers, zincographers, printing equipment adjusters, printers, specialists in the field of publishing;
• cartography - engravers of original topographic maps, cartographers, specialists in the field of geoinformatics.

Women can obtain these specialties in the vocational education system, in higher and secondary specialized educational institutions, as well as in the system of the Russian Defense Sports and Technical Organization - ROSTO (former DOSAAF).

Calling up a conscript for military service

Conscription of conscripts for military service includes:

• the appearance of conscripts for medical examination, professional psychological selection and a meeting of the draft commission of the military registration and enlistment office;
• the appearance of conscripts at the time and place specified in the military registration and enlistment office agenda for sending to the place of military service and staying at the military registration and enlistment office before the start of military service.

Article 26 “Organization of conscription of citizens for military service” of Federal Law No. 53-FZ “On Military Duty and Military Service”

Often, conscripts in practice when visiting a military registration and enlistment office have to deal with such concepts as:

• FULL MILITARY SERVICE and CONTRACTS.

It must be borne in mind that these concepts are slang, and the legally correct concepts are:

• MILITARY SERVICE AND CONTRACTS.

Calling up conscripts for military service:

• mandatory enrollment of conscripts into military service in order to provide military units and subunits with personnel;
• Military conscription service is mandatory for citizens of the Russian Federation.

The following are subject to conscription for military service:

• male conscripts aged 18 to 27 years, who are or are required to be registered with the military and are not in the reserve.

Article 22 “Citizens subject to conscription for military service” of Federal No. 53-FZ “On military duty and military service”

Conscripts who:

• exempted from military duty;
• exempted from conscription for military service;
• received a deferment from conscription for military service;
• are not subject to conscription for military service.

Deadlines for military service

Conscripts are called up for military service twice a year:

• from April 1 to July 15 and
• from October 1 to December 31 on the basis of decrees of the President of the Russian Federation.

Article 25 “Terms for conscription of citizens for military service” of Federal Law No. 53-FZ “On Military Duty and Military Service”

As an exception, other terms of conscription for military service are established for conscripts:

• living in the regions of the Far North (areas equivalent to them) - from May 1 to July 15 or from November 1 to December 31;
• those living in rural areas and directly involved in sowing and harvesting work - from October 15 to December 31;
• who are teaching staff of educational organizations - from May 1 to July 15.

Recruitment commission of the military registration and enlistment office

Recruitment of conscripts for military service by conscription:

• organize military commissariats (military registration and enlistment offices) through their structural divisions and
• are carried out by conscription commissions created in municipal districts, urban districts and in the intracity territories of federal cities by decision of the highest official of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation on the recommendation of the military commissar.

Article 26 “Organization of conscription of citizens for military service” of Federal Law No. 53-FZ “On Military Duty and Military Service”

The draft commission of the military registration and enlistment office includes:

• a local government official heading the local administration, or his deputy - the chairman of the draft commission;
• official of the military registration and enlistment office - deputy chairman of the draft commission;
• secretary of the draft commission;
• a doctor in charge of the medical examination of conscripts;
• representative of the internal affairs body;
• representative of the body exercising management in the field of education;
• representative of the employment service body - to resolve issues related to alternative civil service.

Article 27 “Composition of the draft commission” of Federal Law No. 53-FZ “On military duty and military service”

The conscription commission of the military registration and enlistment office is charged with organizing medical examinations and professional psychological selection of conscripts.

Based on the results of such selection, the conscription commission of the military registration and enlistment office makes one of the following decisions regarding conscripts:

• on conscription of a conscript for military service;
• on sending a conscript to alternative civilian service;
• on granting conscripts a deferment from conscription for military service;
• on the exemption of a conscript from conscription for military service;
• on the enlistment of a conscript into the reserve;
• on the release of a conscript from military duty.

The conscription commission of the military registration and enlistment office also examines conscripts wishing to enter military educational institutions and issues (or refuses to issue) directions for them to take competitive entrance exams.

Article 28 “Responsibilities of the draft commission for conscripting citizens for military service and the procedure for the work of the draft commission” of Federal Law No. 53-FZ “On Military Duty and Military Service”

Conscription commission of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation

By decision of the highest official of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation, a draft commission of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation is created, which includes:

• the highest official of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation - the chairman of the draft commission;
• military commissar - deputy chairman of the draft commission;
• secretary of the draft commission;
• medical specialists involved in medical examination and medical examination of conscripts;
• representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, department (main department) of internal affairs for a constituent entity of the Russian Federation;
• a representative of the executive body of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation exercising public administration in the field of education;
• a representative of the relevant employment service body - regarding issues related to alternative civil service.

Conscription commission of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation:

• organizes a medical examination and control measures for professional psychological selection of conscripts before sending them to the place of military service, as well as a control medical examination of conscripts who have received an exemption from conscription for military service for health reasons, and conscripts who have declared disagreement with the conclusions about their fitness for military service service based on the results of a medical examination and/or conclusions about their professional suitability;
• carries out methodological management of the activities of conscription commissions of military registration and enlistment offices;
• checks the correctness of granting conscripts deferments and exemptions from conscription for military service;
• controls the validity of the military registration and enlistment offices sending conscripts for military service in the branches and branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, other troops, military formations and bodies;
• considers complaints from conscripts about decisions (conclusions) of conscription commissions of military registration and enlistment offices.

The draft commission of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation has the right:

• overturn decisions of lower draft commissions of military registration and enlistment offices,
• including with the simultaneous adoption of another decision,
• and also cancel their conclusions.

At the same time, when making a decision on conscripting conscripts for military service, the conscription commission of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation determines the type and branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, other troops, military formations and bodies in which conscripts will serve. The decision of the draft commission of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation on the complaint of a conscript may be appealed by him to the court.

Passing the draft board of the military registration and enlistment office

Conscripts arriving at the military registration and enlistment office for medical examination and draft board:

• must be met by the duty officer at registration and enlistment office (an officer or warrant officer of the military registration and enlistment office),
• familiarize yourself with the procedure for passing the draft board, explain the responsibilities of a conscript.

Each conscript is checked for the presence of documents and compliance with their requirements, and the entries in the conscript’s registration card are clarified. Then the conscript is sent to a professional psychological selection specialist to assess his neuropsychic stability and for a medical examination.

The doctor supervising the work of the specialists makes a final conclusion:

• on the conscript’s fitness category for military service,
• indicator of the conscript's purpose for military service,
• about examination (treatment), as well as a conclusion about suitability (unsuitability) for training (service) in a military specialty.

Appendix No. 31 “The procedure for organizing the work of the recruiting station and the draft commission during the conscription of citizens for military service” to the Order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation of October 2, 2007 No. 400 “On measures to implement the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of November 11, 2006 No. 663 »

If it is impossible to provide a medical report on the conscript’s suitability for military service on the spot:

• conscript by decision of the conscription commission of the military registration and enlistment office or the military commissar of the municipality
• is sent for an outpatient or inpatient medical examination to a medical institution,
• after which he is assigned to appear for a second medical examination and a meeting of the draft commission of the military registration and enlistment office, taking into account the expected completion date of the specified examination.

The medical report is recorded:

• in the medical examination card,
• in the book of minutes of meetings of the draft commission of the military registration and enlistment office;
• The conscript's passport data, diagnosis, complaints, anamnesis, and research data confirming the diagnoses of identified deficiencies are also recorded there.

Appealing the decision of the draft commission of the military registration and enlistment office

The decision of the draft commission of the military registration and enlistment office can be appealed to the court at the place of residence or to a higher draft commission of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation. If you disagree with the decision of the draft commission, the conscript must demand from the chairman of the draft commission that he be given a copy of the decision, referring to paragraph 6 of Article 28 “Responsibilities of the draft commission for the conscription of citizens for military service and the procedure for the work of the draft commission” of Federal Law No. 53- Federal Law “On Military Duty and Military Service”.

To appeal the decision of the draft commission, a conscript must:

• immediately appear in court at your place of residence and submit an application in 3 copies with a complaint about the unlawful actions of the draft commission of the military registration and enlistment office;
• one copy of the application will remain in court, the second copy of the application will be sent by the court to the defendant, and the third copy of the application must remain in the hands of the conscript with a mark on the date of admission;
• from this moment on, the decision to conscript a conscript for military service is suspended.

All subsequent actions that the military registration and enlistment office or the police can take to deliver the conscript to the assembly point and place of service:

• will be illegal until the court considers the case and makes a decision;
• in this case, the conscript is not obliged to appear at the assembly point on the summons of the military registration and enlistment office,
• and when trying to send him there under escort, he can refer to clause 7 of Article 28 of the Federal Law “On Military Duty and Military Service”, according to which the conscript can appeal the decision of the draft commission.

It is also advisable for the conscript to send a notice to the police and prosecutor’s office:

• that the decision of the conscription commission has been appealed to the court in the event that the military registration and enlistment office illegally applies to the prosecutor's office with a petition to initiate a criminal case for evading conscription for military service;
• The notice should be accompanied by a copy of the postal receipt for sending the complaint to the court or a copy of the complaint itself with a note indicating that it was registered with the court.

Summons to the military registration and enlistment office

Conscripts are summoned to events related to conscription for military service by summons from the military registration and enlistment office.

Clause 3 of Article 26 “Organization of conscription of citizens for military service” of Federal Law No. 53-FZ “On Military Duty and Military Service”

According to the military registration and enlistment office agenda:

• the conscript must appear for a medical examination,
• to a meeting of the draft commission or to be sent to a military unit.

Article 31 “Obligations of citizens subject to conscription for military service” of Federal Law No. 53-FZ “On Military Duty and Military Service”

A summons to the military registration and enlistment office is given to the conscript against receipt:

• employee of the military registration and enlistment office or
• at the place of work/study - by a manager or other employee of the organization;
• The summons to the military registration and enlistment office must contain an indication of liability for failure to appear on the summons to the military registration and enlistment office.

If it is impossible to serve a conscript with a summons to the military registration and enlistment office:

• The military registration and enlistment office is obliged to submit a written appeal to the internal affairs bodies with a request to ensure the appearance of the conscript
• no later than 3 days before the scheduled date.

If a conscript fails to appear on a summons to the military registration and enlistment office without good reason:

• the conscript is considered to be evading military service and
• held accountable in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.

Article 328 “Evasion of military and alternative civil service” of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation

A summons to the military registration and enlistment office does not oblige the conscript to anything if:

• handed to the conscript without a signature, for example, put in a mailbox;
• transmitted through neighbors, parents, etc. against their signature;
• formatted incorrectly, for example, it does not indicate for what purpose the conscript is called to the military registration and enlistment office.

A telephone call to a conscript cannot replace a summons to the military registration and enlistment office.

Preparing a conscript for military service

Recruits must be notified in advance that:

• to be sent to the assembly point, they are required to arrive at the military registration and enlistment office in serviceable clothes and shoes;
• in the cold season or when sending to areas with a cold climate - in warm clothes and shoes;
• The time for reporting to the military registration and enlistment office is set taking into account the time of arrival at the assembly point, the introduction of representatives of military units to conscripts and the formation of military echelons (teams);
• conscripts are sent to the assembly point accompanied by representatives of the military registration and enlistment offices of municipalities and organizations.

Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of November 11, 2006 No. 663 “On approval of the Regulations on conscription of citizens of the Russian Federation for military service”

To prepare in advance for a meeting with the draft board of the military registration and enlistment office, the conscript must:

• determine the time of your conscription for military service, taking into account the draft age and conscription periods (from April 1 to July 15 and from October 1 to December 31);
• find out whether he has the right to a deferment or exemption from conscription for military service for health reasons;
• find out if he is eligible for any other deferments or exemptions during military service now and in the near future;
• collect the documents necessary to confirm deferments from conscription for military service, make copies of them;
• study legislative acts related to deferments of conscripts from conscription for military service and the rights of conscripts (make photocopies of the most important articles for yourself);
• find out the contact details of human rights organizations in your region (for example, the Committee of Soldiers' Mothers), pass these coordinates on to one of your relatives or friends who will help him if he finds himself in a difficult situation.

If a conscript has the right to a deferment from conscription for military service:

• it is necessary to record this right upon the first call to the military registration and enlistment office;
• it is inappropriate to ignore summons to the military registration and enlistment office, you need to appear when summoned to the military registration and enlistment office, present the relevant documents and demand that the military registration and enlistment office make an entry about the deferment in the certificate of a citizen subject to conscription or military ID;
• this will put the conscript’s relationship with the military registration and enlistment office on a strictly legal basis.

A document with a note indicating a deferment from conscription for military service must always be carried by a conscript with him:

• the police sometimes detain young people of military age on the street “until identification is established” and
• sent to the military registration and enlistment office.

Before conscription for military service, especially if a deferment from conscription for military service has not been issued:

• It is advisable to issue a general power of attorney from a notary for one of your close relatives or friends.

Agenda from:

• usually sent to the conscript or issued when the decision to conscript for military service has already been made;
• the decision must be preceded by a medical examination and a draft commission, at which the conscript can declare his right to a deferment or exemption from conscription.

If a conscript has doubts about the legality of the call “to be sent to the place of military service,” he needs to contact the military registration and enlistment office by phone indicated in the summons and clarify the reason and legality of the call.

If you have any questions about the violation of your rights, or you find yourself in a difficult life situation, then an online duty lawyer is ready to advise you on this issue for free.

PRE-CONTRACTION PREPARATION FOR MILITARY SERVICE

Who is subject to conscription for military service?

Those subject to conscription for military service:

• citizens aged 18 to 27 years old, fit for military duty due to health reasons, as well as persons enlisted in the reserves with an officer rank; • citizens who have legal grounds for deferment, but refused it by personal application to the military registration and enlistment office at their place of residence (Article 22FZ, clause 2.1). The application is attached to the minutes of the meeting of the draft commission; • citizens who have expunged their criminal records and expressed a desire to fulfill their military duty; • persons who previously had a deferment due to study, but stopped studying.

The attention of those subject to conscription for military service who previously had a deferment from conscription due to health reasons and who were sent for treatment to specialized medical institutions should be paid attention to. According to the law, such categories of citizens, after undergoing treatment in the direction of the medical commission of the military registration and enlistment office, are required to re-pass the conscription medical commission and, by its decision, be called up for service on a general basis.

More details about citizens who are exempt from conscription for military service and about deferments can be found in separate articles on our website