MOSCOW. July 26 (Interfax-AVN) - Active-duty servicemen of the Airborne Troops who have been in service for more than a year will form the core of the 76th airborne division that launches an experiment on transition to professional military service on September 1.
"The proposal to set priorities in recruitment for professional service was made by the 76th airborne division headquarters," a source in the Airborne Staff told Interfax- Military News Agency. "It will be considered at a special extramural session of the Airborne Troops council in Pskov on July 31 on a top-priority basis," the source said.
He stressed than a part of professional soldiers would still be recruited for service in the division through military commissioner's offices of northwestern European Russia.
According to data available to Interfax-AVN, the 76th division will number more than 6,000 officers, warrant officers and privates after the experiment is launched. A professional sergeant will be paid a monthly allowance of about RUB4,000 (USD126.9) and a professional private a monthly allowance of RUB3,200 (USD101.5) starting from September 1 this year.