MOSCOW. Nov 14 (Interfax-AVN) - The 76th airborne division headquartered in the northwestern Russian city of Pskov is suffering problems with manning its units that are being switched over to professional military service, a competent source in the Defense Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Thursday.
"A directive of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces dated June 17, 2002 provides for recruiting 1,100 people for serving in the division by military commissioner's offices before the end of 2002. The military commissioner's offices have so far recruited about 300 people," the source said.
Some 600 professional soldiers are serving in the 76th division. "300 professionals have arrived from the military commissioner's offices and another 300 from other airborne units and large units, as well as from the 76th division," the source noted.
"The main reason for the failure of the selection plan for service in the 76th division is low salaries of servicemen. Even taking into account a bonus for tensity of service amounting to RUB1,200 (USD37.7) that the Defense Ministry has just introduced, there are very few people willing to serve in the Airborne Troops for RUB4,000 (USD125.6) a month," he said.
A special contract support squad consisting of seven people has been added to the division headquarters for competent screening of applicants for service in the 76th division and their putting in military positions on the basis of their professional and personal qualities.