ROSTOV-ON-DON. Sept 17 (Interfax-AVN) - The command post mobilization exercise (CPMEX) has started in Russia's internal republics of Dagestan and North Osetiya-Alaniya, the North Caucasus Military District press-service told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"The exercises, started in southern Russia today, are aimed at testing combat and mobilization readiness of a number of North Caucasus Military District units, including their practical mobilization. For instance, a detached security and support battalion will be deployed outside Vladikavkaz," Colonel Igor Konashenkov, chief of the North Caucasus Military District press- service, told Interfax-Military News Agency.
The CPMEX to be held in two Russian republics will see participation of about 5,000 reserve servicemen. About 3,500 reservists will participate in a one-day exercise, while the ten days' exercise will see participation of about 1,000 people, the officer said.
According to Lieutenant General Alexei Maslov, chief of staff and deputy commander of the North Caucasus Military District, supervising the exercise, "the main objective is to practically test combat skills of reservists, and refine payment settlement with organizations, providing mobilization resources."
According to the North Caucasus Military District headquarters, this is the sixth such exercise held in the military district in 2003. This year similar mobilization exercises have been held in the Rostov and the Volgograd regions, the Krasnodar and the Stavropol territories, and the Republic of Adygeya.
The press-service said that about 20,000 people had undergone training and conversion training in the course of various training exercises in the North Caucasus Military District since the beginning of the year. The CPMEX exercises have seen the participation of a total of 120,000 reservists in 2003. The exercises cost about RUB15m (USD488,599), with RUB8m (USD260,586) allocated from the federal budget, and RUB7m (USD228,013) earmarked from budgets of Russia's regions, hosting regional mobilization exercises.