The conscription age in Russia in 2021: will it be raised or not?

In the Russian Federation, young people from 18 to 27 years old are eligible for conscription.

In this case, depending on the birthday, the presence and end of conscription age is determined. In the event that an attempt was recorded to recruit a young man who does not fit the established age restrictions, this is an illegal action. Let's take a closer look at how old they are to enlist in the army.

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Can an 18 year old be taken into service?

Despite the fact that conscription for military service is available to people from the age of 18, as a rule, guys go to the army a little later. This feature is associated precisely with the conscript’s legal right to education.

If a young man goes to study at a higher education institution or college after graduating from school, the military commissariat provides him with a deferment. Only after the deferment comes to an end and the situation changes, the military commissariat can again issue a summons for conscription into the army after school.

Let us note that even 18-year-old school students cannot be called up for military service. Thus, young people are given the opportunity to calmly finish their studies, pass all the necessary exams and receive a certificate.

After the young man becomes a graduate, he will be given time to enter a higher educational institution or a secondary specialized educational institution. In the event that a young man of military age cannot enroll anywhere before October 1, the military commissariat has the legal right to draft the guy into the army.

Reviews

Dear readers, you can leave your review about the conscription age in Russia in 2021 in the comments, your opinion will be useful to other users of the site!

Vitaly

I don’t understand why some young guys are so afraid of the army that they are ready to hide from conscription for almost 10 years and live in some kind of fear that they are about to draft you into the army. Serve for a year, now we don’t have martial law, this is nonsense. The army is like a school of life.

Basil

I think that the conscription age will soon be raised. It seems to me that our policy is heading towards this. The situation in the country is not the best, and we have many draft dodgers. Young people don’t want to spend a year of their life on this, they would be better off going to clubs and drinking vodka.

Up to what age can they be drafted?

Young people up to 26 years of age inclusive can be recruited for military service. Only after a guy reaches 27 years of age does he move beyond the available age limits for conscription.

Thus, even if the draft falls a week or month before the 27th birthday, the conscript can be drafted into military service. In this case, the exact same period of military service is established as for other conscripts - 12 months.

In the event that the military commissariat did not have time to identify a conscript into the army, then as soon as the young man reaches the age of 27, he must appear at the military registration and enlistment office to receive a military conscription on a legal basis. It is necessary to approach this issue responsibly and study all the subtleties. The conscript may also be given a document that is a substitute for a military ID in this case - this is a draft dodger’s certificate.

When was the conscription age established?

For the first time, the conscription age from 18 years old was established in Soviet Russia in 1918 by the regulation “On forced recruitment into the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army.” The upper limit then was 40 years. For a long time, it was the lower limit that changed: in 1920, the Decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee raised it to 20 years, in 1924 – to 21 years. But already in 1930, a new law established the beginning of the conscription age at 19 years old.

In 1936, both borders changed: conscription began from 18 to 50 years of age. During the Great Patriotic War - from 16 to 55 years old, but in 1949 both borders were returned to the pre-war level. The last Soviet law on conscription was adopted in 1967 and set the modern conscription age from 18 to 27 years. In this form, these figures were inherited by all states that were formed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. To this day, this age is set in Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and other CIS countries.

This age interval has traditionally been considered the most optimal from the point of view of the physiology and social life of conscripts. A young body, at the peak of shape and strength, tolerates physical activity well and recovers quickly. Young men are not yet burdened with families and work, and do not have professional skills. Similar considerations were followed in different countries. In addition, the conscription age was determined about a century ago, when people grew up earlier, and at 18 years old conscripts were not almost teenagers, but young, but already adult men.

Therefore, numbers 18 – 27 are relevant not only for post-Soviet states, but also for Bulgaria, Italy, Croatia and some other countries where there is still conscription. In Ukraine, for a long time, the conscription age began at 20 years old, but in 2021, President Vladimir Zelensky returned the Soviet 18 years. In the two years between graduation from school and conscription, too many school graduates managed to enter universities and thus receive a deferment of several years. As a result, conscription plans were greatly underfulfilled.

How to get exemption from conscription?

Clients who contact our company are not sent to serve in the army. Just call the numbers listed on our website to sign up for a legal consultation.

Our specialists help prepare for military conscription events, help in preparing the necessary documentation, and even provide support to the conscription commission. In addition, if the client does not agree with the decision put forward by the commission representatives, we will help to appeal the verdict to a higher military commissariat or court.

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We have been protecting the rights and interests of conscripts since 2015.

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Not everyone serves

However, there are a number of reasons that allow you to receive a deferment from military service, or even not serve at all.

Diseases

The most common reason for refusal of service is the presence of illness. Moreover, the disease must fall under the list defined by regulatory documents. Having received a summons to the military registration and enlistment office and undergoing a medical examination, you can find out that you are not fit for military service and receive the appropriate category of unfitness - B or D.

Studies

The second most popular reason for not serving is training. There are often cases when a young man studies until he is 27 years old, that is, until the end of conscription age.

Family circumstances

Certain circumstances regarding family issues may favorably influence the granting of a deferment from the army. So, for example, if by the age of 18 you already have a legally registered family, as well as at least two children (as soon as you have time!), you are guaranteed a deferment, and not temporary, but permanent. Once you reach 27 years of age, you can apply to the military registration and enlistment office to receive a military ID.

There are other reasons related to family circumstances that may prevent you from joining the army. But you can read about them in another article on our website.

When 1 is almost 2! In order not to serve, one child in a family is enough. But in this case, your wife must be pregnant and the gestation period must be at least 26 weeks. The spouse, naturally, should not be a common-law spouse, but an “officially registered” one.

Work and alternative service

Let's say you graduated from a specialized university and are an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Prosecutor's Office or Customs; or you are a young and very talented, hardworking, socially responsible, honest deputy with a deep sense of compassion for your neighbor (there are such people too! There must be! Well, at least a few!); or you are a deeply religious person with anti-militaristic views on life; Well, at least a reindeer herder! - You won’t see the harsh everyday life of the army in an interesting way.

What about the ladies?

Military service in the army does not apply to representatives of the fair (but weaker) sex. Still, women can serve in the army. For them there is only one way out - contract service.

“Are you sure you’re not crazy?” In addition to the mandatory medical examination, women wishing to serve must undergo psychological tests. They allow you to assess stress resistance, reaction speed, temperament, including relationships with male subordinates. After testing, one of 4 possible categories is awarded. Only the first two are accepted into the army.

Useful information for conscripts

In the Russian Federation, according to presidential decrees, conscription for military service takes place twice a year:

• spring conscription begins on April 1 and ends on July 15;
• The autumn conscription begins on October 1 and ends on December 31.

For certain categories of young people of military age, these terms may change. This is stated in Article 25 of the Federal Law. For example, according to the rules, autumn conscription into the army should not be carried out for workers who work in the teaching field.

A separate category of citizens may be called up at other times of the year:

• from May 1 to July 15 (spring conscription) and from November 1 to December 31 (autumn conscription) - events are held for citizens who live in some areas of the Far North or those territories that are equivalent to it;
• from October 15 to December 31, an autumn conscription is held for citizens who live in rural areas and are engaged in sowing and harvesting activities;
• From May 1 to July 1, a spring call for teaching staff is held.

Who can count on exemption from military service?

The federal law provides that a number of citizens of the Russian Federation may be exempted from military service, despite their conscription age:

• those conscripts who are called up as partially fit or completely unfit for military service due to health conditions;
• those conscripts who have previously completed alternative public service, or served in the army of another country in accordance with international treaties.

In addition, those young people who:

• received an academic degree;
• are close relatives of those persons who died or were mortally wounded during military service.

Those citizens who:

• at the time of conscription they are serving a sentence (this may be correctional or compulsory labor, they may be under arrest or deprived of liberty);
• have an outstanding conviction for breaking the law;
• are involved in a criminal case or are under preliminary investigation.

What if there is a war tomorrow?

We live in unstable times, when the threat of an outbreak of hostilities is very high. Let's figure out at what age they are drafted into the Russian army in the event of a military conflict. The above-mentioned Law “On Military Service” contains the answer to this question.

In the event of war, those men who have served their military service or have not served, but were found to be of limited fitness by a medical examination (category B) are subject to mobilization.

Important! Category B is assigned to those young people who, during the period of examination at the military registration and enlistment office, had serious illnesses that did not allow them to perform the duties of a military personnel in peacetime. GPS in a military ID means “unfit in peacetime.”

There are 3 groups (or categories) of military personnel in the reserve who will be called up to war.

1. Group 1: 18-35 years old;
2. Group 2: 35-45 years old;
3. Group 3: 45-50 years old.

First of all, military personnel of the first group are subject to mobilization. They are much stronger and more resilient. Representatives of groups 2 and 3 will serve at the country's defense enterprises serving the needs of the front. However, in the event of massive losses as a result of hostilities, they too will go to the front.

Still, let's not talk about sad things. We really hope that Russian men will never need this information.

And this is already very important! According to the Law of the Russian Federation “On Military Service”, only military personnel on a contract basis can serve in the “hot spots” of the planet outside the Russian Federation. Conscripts can also be sent there, but not in the first months of their stay in the army. In 2013, President of Russia V.V. Putin signed a decree according to which conscripts can be sent to serve in “hot spots,” but only after 4 months of training.

What circumstances entail receiving a deferment?

According to the legislation of the Russian Federation, a conscript has 12 reasons to receive a deferment from military service despite his conscription age:

• he has health problems - these are temporary treatable illnesses or injuries;
• he provides regular care for a close relative (a deferment is granted after the conclusion of the commission);
• if the conscript is the legal guardian of his own sister or brother. In this case, it is imperative to provide all documentation that will confirm the fact that there are no other relatives who could be designated as the child’s guardian;
• conscripts who are raising a child alone;
• conscripts who have two or more children;
• those conscripts who are raising a disabled child if his age does not exceed 3 years;
• those conscripts who are studying at an educational institution that has passed state accreditation;
• those conscripts who serve in institutions of the penal system or other government bodies (a complete list can be found in the relevant law);
• conscripts who have a child and a pregnant wife whose pregnancy is at least 22 weeks;
• young people who are deputies in the State Duma or hold such positions in government bodies. Depending on the authority, the deferment period is set;
• conscripts who have applied for candidacy in the elections;
• conscripts who received a deferment by decree of the President of the Russian Federation.

Will the conscription age for military service be raised?

This is probably the main fear of both conscripts and their parents. Every year before the start of the next conscription period, a new wave of rumors and discussions of this issue arises on the Internet. Various new numbers appear, from 28-29 to 30 and even 35 years. Raising the retirement age has certainly increased these fears – by analogy.

However, in reality today there is nothing to suggest that the conscription age in Russia will increase. In 2021, it remains the same as it was established in 1998, and in fact even earlier - the numbers 18 - 27 migrated into Russian law from the Law “On Universal Military Duty” of 1967, adopted in the Soviet Union. Since then, the twenty-third year has passed without changes, and nothing predicts them.

The fact is that raising the draft age is objectively, if not completely impossible, then extremely difficult - both economically and socially. Many people will be removed from labor relations, which will inevitably have a bad impact on the economy and cause public discontent.

At the same time, the effect of conscripting men under 30, and especially under 35, will be extremely insignificant. The new norm cannot be applied to those who did not serve until the age of 27 and have already received a military ID - such a law does not have retroactive effect. And the percentage of those who could not serve until the age of 27, but who will not be able to after that, will turn out to be insignificant. Raising the upper limit will also not solve the problems of draft dodgers. Subject matter experts also say this.

The legislative initiative of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation faction in the State Duma is well known: at the end of 2014, the communists proposed to remove the upper limit of the draft age altogether, but for obvious reasons their bill was rejected in the first reading. In 2017, the possibility of raising the upper limit to 30 years was considered in the State Duma Committee on Defense, but the idea did not even make it to the bill. There is no serious talk about changing the conscription age at the state level - and not only in the direction of raising the upper limit, but, unfortunately, the lower one: from 18 to 20 years old, it will not be moved either.

Who needs such rumors and why?

The sources of such rumors are different. Their maintenance is also beneficial to military registration and enlistment offices. The fact is that every call from the Ministry of Defense to the commissariats of the constituent entities of the federation and their city and district departments sends out a plan: how many young men need to be shaved in order to staff all military units in the country with privates, corporals and junior sergeants. Military registration and enlistment offices operate in plan mode.

Such rumors, firstly, give rise to doom among conscripts. If you still can’t wait to reach the age limit, then why put off the inevitable, it’s better to shoot right away and move on with your life - as they say, the sooner you start, the sooner you finish.

And secondly, the illusory threat of raising the conscription age sows fear in a couple of years of ending up in a unit where there will be many much older soldiers. Naturally, being next to a man of about 30 years old is a source of constant threat for yesterday’s schoolboy. Therefore, guided by the principle “it will get worse,” conscripts go to military registration and enlistment offices and help them fulfill the plan.

What is the procedure for passing a medical examination?

The process of conscription into military service includes a number of stages:

• You must appear for a medical examination. To do this, the conscript is given a summons in advance with the specified time and place of the commission;
• the conscript is required to undergo an appropriate examination;
• Next, the decision of representatives of the draft commission is heard. According to the verdict, the conscript is sent to military or alternative public service, he is given a deferment or a military ID in connection with his release from the army.

That citizen who has every reason to receive a deferment or exemption from the army must prepare in advance all the documentation that confirms the existence of these reasons. For example, this could be a doctor’s certificate or a conclusion from an independent medical institution if the conscript expects to receive an exemption or deferment for health reasons.

— Alina Petrova, director of Povestok.Net

Age limits

Depending on the rank of a serviceman, the maximum period for remaining in the reserve varies from 45 to 65 years.

In Art. 53 of Federal Law No. 53-FZ of March 28, 1998, provides a table of the maximum ages for military personnel to remain in the reserves, which is used to determine the length of time citizens are registered with the military.

The age limits for those liable for military service vary depending on gender.

For men

A man becomes liable for military service as soon as he turns 18 years old. His further attitude towards military service depends on his state of health. If a young man is recognized as fit for service, then he remains liable for military service as long as his health allows or until he reaches the age limit in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation.

Due to health reasons, the maximum age of a man in reserve is reduced. If a medical examination shows that he is unfit for further service, the man is sent into retirement.

For women

Women are recognized as liable for military service only after receiving a military specialty. They have military obligations until the age of 45, except for those who have an officer rank. For women, the age for deregistration of reserve officers ends upon reaching 50 years of age.