In Russia, as soon as a young man is 18 years old, he is called up for military service. For most youngsters fit for health reasons, an army is inevitable. The exception is only those citizens whose beliefs or religion come into conflict with the principles of military duty, as well as those who belong to the categories of small indigenous peoples. For them, there is another way to repay a debt to the Motherland - an alternative service. However, in order to “serve as a citizen,” one should not only be considered a representative of a small indigenous people, but also adhere to the traditions of his community, village, etc. and have traditional fishing as the main activity.
In our country, most often they enter alternative service because of religious beliefs. It doesn’t matter if a person is a member of a religious community or not. To make his choice in favor of an alternative option of serving the motherland, the conscript must personally write a statement to the military enlistment office. However, those who decided to take this step should take into account that the alternative service along with some advantages has its drawbacks. It is paid rather modestly, although it requires high power costs. Usually they try to send a conscript to a region remote from his permanent place of residence , however, due to the fact that often it is not possible to positively resolve the issue of housing, which should be provided in this case for free, he has to serve in the same city where he and lives.
An alternative civil service is primarily a job. Work for the good and in the interests of society and Russia. Entering it, the draftee and the enterprise enter into an employment contract. However, it differs from the usual labor contract in that the “alternative person” does not have the right to terminate it until the time when the alternative service ceases to be effective. There is a whole list of professions that a military registration and enlistment office can offer a young man. Every year, this list is amended: concrete workers, fellers, drivers, gas welders , divers, movers, janitors, road workers, livestock breeders, controllers, boilers, couriers - this is not a complete list of the work that a draftee can do in civilian life. He can be appointed as milkmaid or dishwasher, or horse breeder, etc. The bulk of specialties that fall into the category of “alternative service” are necessary, but at the same time, difficult and unpromising.
It should be borne in mind that the duration of alternative service is almost 2 times longer than military. Instead of one year, conscripts serving in civilian work for 21 months on the spot, and in organizations belonging to the armed forces of the Russian Federation - 18 months. At the same time, only those days that are worked out completely and absenteeism, periods of additional leave for students, as well as the time during which the employee was arrested for a criminal or administrative offense are counted in the service life . Work days are not counted if the fact of finding a person at work in a state of intoxication (alcoholic or narcotic) was revealed.
An alternative service has a civil status and can take place in the walls of psychiatric hospitals, as well as nursing homes, as well as in the fire department, housing and communal services, by post, in orphanages. In peacetime, soldiers of the alternative service are engaged in the performance of household chores, can provide the educational process in organizations, protect the rear and perform additional work not related to military activities. At the end of the established period, citizens are credited to the reserve of military forces.