Russia is one of the few countries in the world where the phenomenon of military conscription has survived. Young people at the age of 18-27 years should pay the debt to the Motherland in our country. And one of the most solemn events of this, of course, is the taking of the oath by the soldiers of the Russian army. Not all recruits have a clear idea of the procedure, its meaning, timing and other nuances. In this article we will try to answer all questions and dispel myths about taking the oath.
What is an oath?
A military oath is a ceremonial oath that is given by a citizen when he is drafted or enrolled in the armed forces of his state. In other words, this is a solemn oath of allegiance to the Fatherland. From this moment, the recruit becomes a soldier with all the duties and rights attached to him. The young man receives the official status of a military serviceman (which is recorded on his military card) and from now on any day can become a weapon to defend his homeland.
The oath in the army of the Russian Federation is not the exclusive custom of our state. The soldier’s oath of allegiance to the Fatherland has very ancient roots - written evidence preserved information about the oath of the ancient Greeks, Romans. Surely the age of oral oaths passed from generation to generation is even greater. The oath tradition in the military unit is still alive in countries such as Belarus, Ukraine, Israel, Germany, Poland, the USA and so on.
For the newly minted soldier, the oath day is still a solemn, exciting event, and, by the way, an additional day off. On this day there is a chance to see relatives and friends, in the framework of decency to celebrate this event.
Oath text
Throughout Russian history, the content of the military oath has been rewritten more than once - for the sake of the rulers, based on the nature of the political system and changing values. However, the meaning remained the same: a solemn oath of allegiance to the state.
The modern text of the oath is short and substantial: "I (F. I. O.) solemnly swear allegiance to my Fatherland - the Russian Federation. I swear to observe the Constitution of the Russian Federation, strictly comply with the requirements of military regulations, orders of commanders and commanders. I swear to fulfill military duty with dignity " courageously defend freedom, independence, the constitutional system of Russia, the people and the Fatherland."
Approved this speech, art. 40 Federal Law "On Military Duties and Service" in 1998. Prior to that, the text introduced by the presidential decree in 1992 was used in the history of the Russian Federation. It was more common: it contained words about the non-use of weapons against his power and people, his readiness to do military service both on the territory of the Russian Federation and abroad.
The history of the Russian oath
They also differed in the content of the oath of various eras of Russian history:
- Imperial army . The servicemen swore on the gospel before God, the Fatherland and His Imperial Majesty. In conclusion, they kissed the Crucifix. The text was not small, but its essence was in one thing - the soldiers swore allegiance to the emperor. If the "Mohammedans" took an oath, then they held their right hand on the Qur'an and repeated the words of the oath to the cleric. Rituals were defined for the followers of Judaism, the Catholic, Lutheran faith.
- Interim government . Soldiers and officers swore allegiance to the new government and the Russian state. They confirmed their words with the banner of the cross.
- Red Army The soldiers swore allegiance to the Workers 'and Peasants' Government, pledged to safeguard national property, study military affairs, and be faithful to the homeland to the last drop of blood. Violation of the oath was punishable by law, "contempt and hatred of the workers."
- USSR . The oath of a soldier of the Soviet army in many ways repeated the previous one, but was more common. The serviceman undertook to keep military and state secrets, to boldly survive all difficulties, to be ready to fight only until victory or death.
What is the importance of the oath?
The oath in the army of the Navy, Air Force, Airborne Forces and other troops is held in the same order and is of great importance. Many recruits consider it a formal solemn event, but this is not so. After all, before the conscript did not utter the oath, he is not a full-fledged military man:
- It is impossible to fix a unit of weapons, military equipment.
- A fighter cannot take up duty, take part in resolving a military conflict, or liquidating the consequences of an emergency.
- The recruit is not authorized to arrest the military police, to judge the tribunal.
Hence an interesting fact: the assault rifles held by recruits in their hands while taking the oath are “no-mans” not officially assigned to them.
How is the oath taken in the army?
The ritual of taking the oath in all parts is one and solemn:
- On the appointed day and hour, soldiers on foot are lined up on the parade ground. The dress code is ceremonial, in the hands of a weapon. Those who have to pronounce the text of the oath are in the first ranks.
- The state flag of the Russian Federation, the combat banner, is brought to the site. There is a military band.
- The event begins with a short speech by the commander of a military unit: it recalls the importance and exceptionalism of the event.
- How is the oath in the army? A soldier is called out of action, after which he reads the words of a military oath. Then he signs in a special list next to his last name and returns to duty.
- After all the soldiers swore allegiance to the Fatherland, the commander congratulates them on this significant event. Sometimes veterans, officials, parents of recruits who came to the ceremony join him.
- In conclusion, the orchestra plays the anthem of the Russian Federation. To music, the military unit is marching on the parade ground.
The tradition is also alive to take the oath near the monuments of military glory, places of heroic battles.
Formal ceremony?
Many former military personnel will tell you that taking the oath is a formal rehearsal for officials, relatives and close recruits who have come to this solemn exciting event from afar. In part, they are right: in many parts, at the time of the ceremony, the recruits are already full-fledged soldiers. After all, they have already signed all the necessary documents on the eve.
So when is the oath taken in the army after conscription? This happens the evening before the official ceremony. A soldier signs in the form opposite to his last name. This is done for a reason. For many draftees, a solemn ceremony, where their relatives, new comrades, respected people will be, is an extremely exciting event. Therefore, in such an environment, it costs nothing to spoil the document by putting the signature in the wrong place. To prevent such incidents, the signing of the documentation is transferred to a more relaxed atmosphere.
When is the oath taken in the army after conscription?
The oath taken by a soldier is far from immediately after being assigned to a specific military unit. Before an oath of allegiance, he must, according to the laws of the Russian Federation, take the "Young Fighter Course", i.e. initial military training. Its duration is 60 days.
Hence, the path of the serviceman is as follows: he is sent from the recruiting station to the training department, where for 2 months he has been learning the basics of soldier's science. Only then he arrives at the military unit, where this ceremony will take place.
No one can tell the exact time of the oath in the army for a specific draft, because the guys enter different parts at different times. But there is a guideline - no more than 60 days after the call.
Refusal of oath
Is it possible not to take an oath in the army? A considerable number of recruits are interested in this question. Moreover, young people are studying the Constitution, the Military Charter and other legislative acts in order to find legal justification for such a refusal. However, in no official document today can you find a clause that would allow a soldier to evade the oath. This is one of the duties of a conscript.
The laws ascribe only one thing: on the eve of the ceremony, the unit commander should ask the soldiers if their religious views allow them to hold weapons in their hands during the oath? As a rule, there are very few guys who want to set off a solemn oath without a gun.
How to read the oath test?
Along with the question "when is the oath taken in the army after conscription?" future recruits are worried about how to pronounce the words of the oath. Note that after the fighter arrives from the training unit in the military, he will have about a week to get used to the new situation, to learn the words of the oath and anthem of the Russian Federation.
The training process is closely monitored - the success of soldiers in this matter is checked every day. With “underperformance”, a march or other penal sanction may be threatened. The measures are really good, so by the day of the ceremony the guys know the text by the teeth. At the same time, the event is repeatedly rehearsed, which is why the oath is usually not overshadowed by funny things.
For a specific fighter, the procedure will look like this:
- After the commander calls him by name, the soldier leaves the line.
- His path lies to a table with a red folder - the text of the oath is written in it.
- At the stand, "quietly", looking straight ahead, the soldier clearly pronounces the oath. If something is forgotten, he has a chance to peek into the folder.
- After that, a signature is placed in the document (if this has not been done before), the soldier says aloud: "I serve the Russian Federation!".
- Then, with a marching step, you need to go to the end of the line. And after the ceremony - accept congratulations on taking the oath in the army from friends and relatives.
It's important to know!
We bring to your attention a few more points that will be useful to the young fighter:
- We have already answered when they take the oath in the army after conscription - no earlier than 2 months later. Therefore, do not believe the rumors claiming that the ceremony will take place exactly one month after the call. This contradicts the Federal Law "On Military Service and Military Duties".
- Once again, we note the inability to refuse the oath. The army has a rule: the order of the commander is first executed, and only then discussed. The ceremony itself is officially called the "Swearing Ritual". It follows that the soldier is not asked about his desire, but is carried out.
- After the celebration - free time, which is already a real soldier can spend time with his loved ones, who arrived at the ceremony. Usually, dismissal is granted for the next two days.
- Who can you invite to take the oath? In some parts, everything is very strict - only the parents of the recruit, as well as the persons accompanying them. That is, your beloved girl, friends must unite with your relatives to see you taking the oath. By the way, guests are required to have a passport with them.
- Remember one more sad nuance - if your parents were not at the ceremony, then 2 days of dismissal are not waiting for you. The weekend you have to spend in parts.
- Foreigners who are called up under a contract for service in the Armed Forces of Russia do not take an oath to our country. The only thing is that they sign an obligation to comply with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and to fulfill the orders of commanders.
Legal aspect
In conclusion, we will introduce you to the legal aspect of the issue at hand - taking the oath. The following legislative acts regulate it:
- Art. 40 Federal Law "On Military Service". Contains the text of the oath.
- Art. 41 Federal Law "On Military Service". Prescribes that taking the oath takes place only after the rookie has completed the Young Fighter Course. As well as conscripts, the oath is taken by cadets of military professional educational institutions (in the 1st and 2nd year of study), students of military departments of civil universities, officers who are for the first time sent for an internship (military training).
- Art. 2 Federal Law "On the status of a serviceman". A conscript is considered a soldier with all his rights and obligations not from the day of the solemn oath, but already upon arrival at the military unit (on the ship) from the assembly point. At this moment, he is the subject of military law rather than civil law and is responsible for committing military offenses already.
- Art. 41 of the Federal Law "On Military Service", in addition to the previous paragraph, gives the soldier a number of responsibilities after taking the oath: securing military weapons, participating in hostilities, carrying guards, etc.
- Comments on the Federal Law "On Military Service" do not allow a soldier to refuse the oath. But there is no criminal or other responsibility for such a decision of the recruit either.
- If military service is contrary to the religious views of the draftee or his other worldview, then under Art. 59 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, he has the right to replace this duty to the homeland with alternative service. This is a more reasonable decision than a refusal to swear.
Summing up, let us say once again that the oath is an obligatory solemn ceremony for each draftee. In part, they prepare for this exciting event in advance, conduct rehearsals, and deal with important documents in advance. Therefore, the recruit has no reason to worry about him.