General Oparin appreciated the approach to the appointment of aviation political officers

Four years have passed since the establishment of the Main Military-Political Directorate in the Armed Forces. During this time, the overall structure of military-political bodies has been formed, and political workers have been staffed. However, the approach to staffing the positions of military-political workers has not justified itself in all branches of the military. He thinks so. former commander of Long-Range Aviation, Honored Military Pilot, member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, candidate of military sciences, Lieutenant General Mikhail Oparin. “MK” publishes notes of the commander.

On July 30, 2018, the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Armed Forces was established by presidential decree. This event then caused a lot of talk, judgments and assessments, both in the military environment and in society. There were skeptics who feared manifestations of formalism in the work of the new political officers, their unprofessionalism.

Those who reasoned in this way may have reason for this. Indeed, in the old days, among political workers, as, indeed, among other specialists, there were people who were insufficiently literate, poorly trained in a professional sense, and sometimes simply dishonorable. But there were few of them. And to make such generalizations about all political workers and political work as a whole is wrong and even harmful.

Over the long years of service, I met and worked directly with many political workers. And the vast majority of them I keep the kindest memories. In the position of commander of an aviation squadron, and then – commander of a regiment, a division of long-range missile carriers, commander of a strategic air army and long-range aviation, he always worked in close contact with his political deputies.

I took into account their opinion and advice when developing decisions on organizing combat and political training, working with officer cadres, families of military personnel. I positively assess their role in maintaining law and order and military discipline, ensuring flight safety, uniting military teams and maintaining a healthy moral and psychological atmosphere in them.

I personally took the creation of the Main Military-Political Directorate with optimism. I believed that now work with people would receive a new positive impetus, direct organizers of this work would appear at all levels. But, unfortunately, after four years I see that not all my hopes were justified.

What, in my opinion. one of the main problems? In some units and most subdivisions, there are still not enough direct organizers of this work. I judge by long-range aviation. There are often no deputy commanders for military-political work in companies, battalions and even aviation squadrons.

I think that such a personnel innovation is not good for the cause either: it was decided to appoint only pilots to the positions of deputy commanders for military-political work in aviation. The meaning is clear: the pilot is a key figure in aviation, and this approach enhances the importance and prestige of military-political positions. But, as they say, there is one “but”.

In operational-tactical aviation, there has always been a similar procedure for appointment to political positions. But in the Long-Range and Military Transport Aviation, the approach to the selection and appointment of political officers was somewhat different. The best pilots and navigators were appointed to these positions from the position of commander or navigator of the detachment and who had the qualifications of 1st class specialists.

And now, experienced and trained deputy commanders of divisions and regiments for military-political work from among the navigators had to be transferred to other positions, often with a significant reduction in command positions in order to comply with the staffing form.

As an experienced commander, I think this is a wrong decision. It, among other things, caused moral harm to officers who for many years adequately performed their duties and were removed from these posts. And the very political position, from which one can be so easily dismissed, did not add credibility.

The creation of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was perceived by me as the beginning of the revival of concrete and effective work with people, with military teams, with the families of servicemen. The functions and tasks of the Main Directorate and seven other directorates within it were clearly defined. But political work must be carried out in the troops. At all times, its center was the division. And there are still not enough personnel who are obliged and able to carry out this work. As long as they do not exist, there will be no meaningful and effective military-political work.

The Public Council under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation submitted its proposals to the Deputy Minister of Defense – Head of the Main Military-Political Directorate on improving political work in the troops. The answer came quickly. The letter from the first deputy of the Main Military-Political Directorate confirmed the correctness of our proposals and even indicated the changes in the states of Long-Range Aviation and Military Transport Aviation, which are planned to be introduced. We are very much looking forward to these changes.

Of course, this will require additional efforts and additional personnel. Otherwise, the formulated goals will remain only beautiful phrases on paper. I would like to hope that the good deed started will be continued and will bring, in the end, the desired result.