What are the categories of fitness for military service?

The fitness category determines the conscript’s ability to serve in certain types and branches of the military, and also determines whether he is subject to conscription into the army in peacetime and wartime. The corresponding fitness category is assigned to the young man based on the results of his medical examination during conscription activities.

In this publication, we will tell you what categories of fitness for military service exist, in which cases a conscript can apply for a deferment or exemption from conscription for health reasons, and on the basis of which one or another category of fitness is assigned.

Fitness category "A"

Fitness category “A” – fit for military service, the highest indicator of a conscript’s health. This category is set in cases where there is no non-vocational disease or if it is in the initial stage of development and is not accompanied by functional disorders. This means that a conscript can be sent to any army, including elite ones.

Category “A” is divided into:

• A-1 – fit without restrictions, has no pathologies or deviations in health, has not had any serious illnesses;
• A-2 – fit with restrictions on the load, seriously ill or suffered an injury (fracture or concussion);
• A-3 – suitable with restrictions on the load, there are slight deviations in vision;
• A-4 – fit with restrictions on load, there are minor problems with the foot.

Which troops will they be sent to serve in?

Every conscript wants to quickly find out which troops they will be sent to serve in. Young people assigned category B4 can be useful as the following specialists:

1. Communications and radio engineering troops.
2. Defense and security of combat missile systems.
3. Special structures.
4. Engineering.
5. Railway.
6. Technical cargo parts.
7. MTO - parts of material support.
8. Road troops.

The Rocket Forces are particularly popular among conscripts. Only officers who have undergone extensive training and gained experience serving at classified military complexes have the right to operate missile launchers. As a rule, such complexes are located far from residential settlements. The service can take place in the tundra, taiga or in the far north.

Many conscripts also strive to take a place in the radio engineering troops. Uninterrupted communication between units is the key to the success of any army. Without communications, failure cannot be avoided. It is for this reason that signalmen are often called the nerves of the army.

Signalmen, even those of limited fitness, undergo physical training, stand guard, dig trenches, and carry heavy equipment. New skills will also be useful in civilian life. Successful specialists are valued in the fields of information technology and communications.

Don't forget about other parts of the armed forces from the list above. Service in them will bring only benefits to conscripts of category “B4”.

Fitness category "B"

Fitness category “B” – fit for military service with minor restrictions. This category is assigned for diseases of various degrees and stages, for borderline diagnoses, as well as for insufficient preparation for conscription, which nevertheless does not interfere with military service. The stronger the disease, the lower the fitness subgroup (1–4) in category “B”.

Category “B” is divided into:

• B-1 and B-2 - are given to conscripts with mild forms of allergies and other chronic diseases that do not cause serious problems in the functioning of organs;
• B-3 – indicated for minor dysfunctions of any organs, cured diseases and residual effects of various diseases and fractures;
• B-4 - assumes the presence of more serious diseases that do not interfere with military service: for example, mild degrees of scoliosis, flat feet, thoracic deformation.

Changing the degree of fitness for service after reaching 27 years of age

Russian citizens who have reached the age of 27 years and/or are in the reserve have the right to undergo repeated medical examinations. They are carried out by military commissariats. Based on the results of the examination, it is possible to change the fitness group for military service determined earlier. To change it, you need to do the following:

• If you disagree with a certain degree of suitability, undergo an independent military medical examination;
• File a judicial complaint against the conclusion with approval of a certain category of fitness for military service;
• Pass a medical examination related to entry into military service under a contract;
• Submit a written appeal to the head of the military commissariat department. It must contain a request to schedule a second medical examination. Here it is necessary to describe the changes that have occurred in the state of health. They must provide grounds for revising the conclusions of the military medical commission. This can be confirmed by medical documents attached to the application obtained as a result of a new examination.

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Cancellation of the mandatory re-examination of persons who were previously recognized as partially fit for military service is not considered a basis for refusal to order a re-examination. In any case, a citizen who is recognized as partially fit and enlisted in the reserve in this regard has the right to a re-examination, as a result of which it is possible to change his category of fitness for military service. This conclusion follows, in particular, from the practice of judicial disputes.

If a refusal is received regarding a referral for a second medical examination, the citizen has the right to appeal it. An appeal is made in court if a person believes that there are actions (inactions) or decisions that violate his freedoms and rights. Such a complaint is considered in the standard manner. Based on the results of the hearing, the claims of the complaint may be satisfied.

Fitness category "B"

Fitness category “B” – limited fit for military service. This category means that the conscript has a number of significant health problems and illnesses that prevent him from completing military service. If such a category is assigned, the military registration and enlistment office is obliged to enroll the young man in the reserve and issue him a military ID, since he is not subject to conscription for military service in peacetime. However, in wartime, a citizen who has received fitness category “B” is subject to conscription into the army.

Who is assigned category “B”

When determining the fitness category, they are guided by a special document called the “Schedule of Diseases.” It directly states which disease to which degree this or that category corresponds.

The document is a large table with notes and looks like this

On the left is the article number, then the name of the disease, its degrees and possible manifestations, then the actual category of fitness for various citizens. The fitness category of “ordinary” conscripts is indicated in the first column. Below we describe in detail which case of disease belongs to which point in the second column.

Evgeniy Godov

lawyer

We regularly write about diseases from the Schedule of Diseases in our Directory of Diseases, where we explain the principles of exemption from the army for a particular disease in a simplified form.

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It should be noted that for an accurate and correct understanding of the “Schedule”, it is necessary to have certain knowledge, both legal and medical. Moreover, each specific case may have its own difficulties and nuances. Therefore, it is better for a potential conscript not to try to figure everything out on his own, but to use the services of professionals. Our company provides conscripts with free consultation from a qualified lawyer.

The Schedule of Diseases lists many diseases. But we can highlight the most common diseases, in the presence of which the conscript is assigned fitness category “B”. A short and simplified list of them is presented below:

• Flat feet of the 3rd degree;
• Scoliosis with a spinal curvature angle of more than 17° (in some cases, with a smaller curvature).
• Myopia more than 6 diopters;
• Farsightedness more than 8 diopters;
• Hypertension with pressure from “140 to 90” and above;
• Bronchial asthma.

Please note that even such a “simple” disease as flat feet can be of different “types”: there is longitudinal and transverse flat feet, etc. The situation with the well-known scoliosis is even more complicated: here, not only the angle of curvature of the spine is decisive, but also other, very subjective factors. Therefore, you should not try to figure out such nuances on your own, because what is at stake is exemption from military service, which lasts a whole year.

Fitness category "G"

Fitness category “G” – temporarily unfit for military service. This category means that the conscript receives a deferment from conscription for a period of 6 or 12 months. The basis for assigning category “G” is the presence of diseases or injuries requiring treatment or rehabilitation.

After the end of the deferment, the conscript is again called for a medical examination. If during the deferment the young man’s health has improved, he can receive fitness category “A” or “B”, after which he will be sent to the army. If health problems persist or the disease progresses, the conscript may either be released from service or given a new deferment.

Changing the level of eligibility for service before reaching 27 years of age

It is allowed to change the previously determined degree of suitability. To do this you can do the following:

First, file a complaint expressing disagreement regarding the conclusion regarding the category of suitability for the army, determined on the basis of a medical examination. Undergo a control medical examination, which is organized after consideration of this complaint.

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Further, in case of disagreement with the results of the medical examination, undergo an independent military medical examination.

This is also important to know:
Criminal liability for evasion of military service in 2019

Finally, appeal the conclusion regarding the category of fitness for military service in court. It should be noted that the judicial procedure does not exclude the conduct of an independent military medical examination during the trial. When a person who has been given a deferment from conscription remains subject to conscription at the time of its expiration, he is called for a medical examination in the general manner. Based on its results, a change in the category of fitness for military service is also allowed.

On what basis is the suitability category determined?

A fitness category is assigned to a young person by a medical commission on the basis of the Schedule of Diseases - a document containing a list of diseases that limit or prevent military service.

In order for the eligibility category to be determined correctly by the doctors of the draft commission, the conscript needs to take care of the following:

1. The conscript's personal file must contain medical documents that correctly and in detail characterize his state of health.
2. If there are no such documents, then before a medical examination, the conscript should independently undergo the necessary examinations and observations in medical institutions.
3. Having studied the Schedule of Diseases, you need to make sure that the attending physician has correctly and in detail determined the conscript’s diagnosis and described the degree of dysfunction of organs and systems.

“Conscript School” will provide conscripts with free legal support and help protect their legitimate interests during conscription. Contact us by phone or email listed on the website.

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Where will they go to work?

When applying for a job that involves conferring a rank and carrying a weapon, it is mandatory to present a military ID, which indicates the category of suitability for military service.

Attention! Health group “B” provides the applicant with great opportunities for employment in any structures, including in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Do they hire you to work in the police?

The possibility of employment in the police with suitability group “B” depends on the subcategory assigned to the applicant:

• “B-1” allows you to work in all intended groups;
• B2 - the possibility of enrollment in all groups, but in the first - with certain restrictions;
• B3 - access to work in the third and fourth groups;
• B4 - employment opportunity only in the fourth group.

The first group includes:

• departments for combating organized crime;
• OMON, SOBR, etc.;
• PPS and traffic police of the traffic police working on the roads;
• security of objects and special cargo;
• private security capture groups;
• drivers of task forces;
• dog handlers;
• employees taking part in firefighting.

The second group includes:

• rapid response units;
• special teams at sites;
• drivers (except for task force drivers);
• instructor groups.

Group 3 includes:

• criminologists;
• public security police;
• duty units;
• employees of the investigative department;
• forensic experts;
• mobilization and personnel departments;
• courier service;
• second special departments;
• fire service employees (except those assigned to group 1);
• technical departments;
• employees of the operational and technical department.

Fourth group:

• passport and visa service;
• rear staff;
• medical workers;
• specialists from the financial and economic department;
• computer support and database centers;
• private security (except for capture groups);
• research centers and departmental institutes;
• other services.

What is category “B” for the conscript himself?

The most common fitness category is category “B”. It can be indicated for various diseases and their degrees. In addition, this category can be assigned to a conscript who has poorly prepared for the military medical commission.

According to the Schedule of Diseases, most diseases are in this category. Accordingly, in order to divide conscripts according to the severity of the disease, there is the concept of “destination indicator”. It is based on this indicator that the category is divided into modifications.

Will they take you to the police?

According to practice, the Military Military Commission of the Ministry of Internal Affairs treats young people who want to enter the service much more strictly than the Military Commissariat Military Commissariat. There are frequent cases when category “A”, assigned by the military medical commission at the military registration and enlistment office, was refuted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Much more opportunities are available to those citizens who have category “B1” in their military ID, and in addition to it, higher education. The chances increase literally several times if you have a legal diploma in your hands. Getting a job in the Ministry of Internal Affairs for any of the positions in the 3-4th group will not be problematic. This includes PDN inspectors, district police officers, OVO control panel security, OPPRIAZ inspectors, logistics service, etc. Over time, it is possible to transfer to other, better positions, since the requirements for their employees during re-examination are much lower than for those newly hired.

Diseases of category B4

The range of diseases in this category is quite extensive. That is why the category is divided into 4 types. The degree of fitness for them is determined in descending order: conscripts with subcategory B4 have the lowest degree of physical activity. The choice of troops for service will also be very limited.

Category B4 is awarded when:

• The presence of mild and short-term symptoms of mental disorders that resulted in complete recovery.
• Neurotic diseases due to stress.
• Stage I dyscirculatory encephalopathy.
• Disturbance of the periphery of the nervous system without serious complications.
• Visual acuity from 0.5 to 0.1 diopters.
• Congenital or acquired rheumatic heart disease with asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction.
• In the presence of certain types of hernias.
• Curvature of the spine II degree.
• The presence of operations on internal organs without complications during the recovery period.
• Mild stuttering.

Conscripts with limited health clearance are allowed to serve in different branches of the military based on decreasing physical load.

So, subgroups for those with limited fitness:

1. B1 - the conscript is fit to serve in special forces, airborne forces, and border troops.
2. B2 - young people belonging to this category are sent to serve in the fleet, including the submarine fleet, as driver-mechanics of armored vehicles, tractors and other similar vehicles.
3. B3 - those belonging to this category are distributed as drivers and employees of infantry fighting vehicles and missile launchers.
4. B4 - physical activity is most limited in this category. Conscripts are sent to guard especially important facilities, end up in radio engineering units of the army, communications troops and other formations and structures.