Before each young man of military age, one day the question arises of whether to serve in the army or by all means try to avoid fulfilling a duty to the Fatherland? Alternative military service , as many people think, may be one of the solutions to this issue. Is it really?
It is necessary to understand what the alternative service in the army is in fact, and whether it will help to “deflect” from military service. In accordance with the State Duma of the Federal Law of the Russian Federation “On Alternative Civil Service (About the ACS)” adopted on July 25, 2002, this activity is not, in fact, military service. This is a job that replaces military service, with income and weekends.
Citizens who are sent by military commissariats to alternative service work for a certain time under a labor contract at state-owned enterprises. Most often these are hospitals, nursing homes, social services. Recently, cultural institutions have provided work for “alternative specialists”: circuses, cultural centers, clubs, theaters.
A young man of draft age (from 18 to 27 years old) who has decided to replace military service with alternative civilian service should apply to the draft board with a statement in which he substantiates his desire. Most often, the reason indicated in the statement is the fact that they belong to a religious organization or their own moral beliefs that prohibit picking up weapons. The decision that the draftee may be sent to the ACS, the draft commission of the military commissariat department takes after the citizen has passed the draft board and a medical examination.
In the event that the young man is fit for military service without restrictions (actually healthy) or fit with minor restrictions, the chairman of the commission may decide to replace the military service with an alternative one (taking into account the fact that the conscript filed on time). If a citizen of draft age has the right to a deferment or is recognized to be of limited fit, the question of whether he needs alternative military service will disappear by itself. He is either granted a deferment (due to studies or marital status, or for other reasons), or a decision is made to be credited to the reserve due to his state of health.
Do not think that alternative military service may be a better option than military conscription. Under the law, the AGS term exceeds the military service almost twice. That is, if a conscript soldier will be serving in the army for a year, then the “alternative worker” must work for 21 months. Not the best prospect for those wishing to evade military service, is not it? Moreover, the salary in those institutions to which conscripts are sent to undergo a civil service is quite low. In addition, a young man sent to alternative civilian service does not have the right to terminate the contract earlier than the set time.
So, alternative military service is not the most successful option in order to "slope" from the army. The state has provided much for the Law on Military Duty and Military Service to be enforced. And an alternative civil service is only a guarantee of granting citizens of the country constitutional rights and freedoms, supplementing this law. It is better to take the opportunity to replace the military service of the ACS with those young people who actually have certain beliefs or religion that contradicts the performance of military duties. Judging by the statistics, there are not so many such citizens, but they are there, and a plan for referral to an alternative service is created in each draft campaign.