MOSCOW. Feb 15 (Interfax-AVN) - The 76th airborne division stationed in the northwestern Russian city of Pskov will launch an experiment in transition to professional military service this year, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry said on Friday.
A federal purpose-oriented program of transition to a predominantly professional army is to be submitted to the Russian government by the end of 2003, the spokesman told Interfax- Military News Agency. Before that, the Armed Forces and other law- enforcement agencies that employ active-duty servicemen will hold experiments in transition to the manning of their units by professional servicemen only.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces proposed to begin the experiment with the 76th division.
The Airborne Staff believes that at least RUB3bn-4bn (USD97.15m-129.53m) will be needed to finance the experiment. The sum does not include costs of retrofitting the division with new armament and military hardware.
The division will undergo restructuring in the course of the experiment. Professional servicemen will not perform functions of attendants and will not be involved in fatigue parties anymore. As a result, the number of civilian employees will be increased (in the U.S. Armed Forces the number of civilians exceeds the number of servicemen three times). Besides, the stress will be laid on development of integrated infrastructure in the division's compounds, housing construction, opening of new schools, kindergartens and entertainment facilities.
Professional servicemen will be paid RUB3,000 to 7,000 (USD97.15-226.68) per month depending on their position.
The 76th airborne division comprises two regiments. A regular motorized rifle division comprises three regiments and several battalions, and an experiment in transition to professional service in such division requires much more funds, the spokesman said.