MOSCOW. Jan 31 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Space Troops will work to enhance efficiency of combat application of missile and space defense systems in 2002, troops commander Anatoly Perminov said on Thursday.
Perminov spoke after a session of the Space Troops military council, the press service of the troops told Interfax-Military News Agency.
The council discussed military discipline and work with personnel in the troops, the press service said. It paid attention to the measures the command and staff bodies of the troops were taking to maintain the required manning level. Participants in the session stressed that the number of vacant officer posts in the troops fell three percent, the rate of early retirement declined 40 percent and the number of new contracts with servicemen made 85 percent of the required volume in 2001.
The council demanded that commanders, staffs, political work and stuff bodies of the troops focused on solution of social and service problems of officers and abidance to law in service activity. Besides, the council ordered to bring the manning level of permanent readiness units to at least 95 percent and take other urgent measures.
"High-quality solution of the problems that we discussed today will provide significant assistance in accomplishment of our missions in 2002, the year that should mark further progress in all aspects of combat readiness. This primarily concerns development of weapons and military hardware, accomplishment of launch plans and spacecraft control missions, and an increase in efficiency of combat application of missile and space defense systems," Perminov stressed.