Military training in 2024: duration, age, who is exempt

On March 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decree on holding annual military training for reserve military personnel in Russia in 2024. Subpoenas may be sent to storekeepers once every three years. The maximum duration of training for them is two months. During the entire period, a citizen who is in the reserve can spend no more than 12 months in service. What else you need to know about fees is in the Kommersant information.

What is the decree about?

“To call upon in 2024 citizens of the Russian Federation who are in reserve to undergo military training in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the troops of the National Guard of the Russian Federation, rescue military formations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, state security agencies and FSB agencies,” it says documentwhich is published on the website for the publication of legal acts.

According to Article 54 of the Federal Law “On Military Duty and Military Service,” military training is held to test the combat training of reservists or to train them to work with new military equipment. Military training for other purposes is not permitted. Participants in the training camp cannot be sent to a combat zone.

Conscription age for military training

All reserves are divided into categories depending on age and military rank. Each category has three categories, on which the length of time in reserve also depends. If a citizen has a special military rank, the conscription age may increase. In addition to reserve servicemen, there are also reserve servicemen in the Russian Armed Forces. According to the general rules, privates and sergeants up to 40 years old are called up to participate in military training, junior officers – up to 50 years old, and senior officers – up to 55 years old.

On July 24, 2023, Vladimir Putin signed a law that increases the age limit for being in the reserves for citizens with military ranks below officer ranks by five years. The promotion affected Russians with the ranks of soldiers, sailors, sergeants, foremen, warrant officers and midshipmen. For ordinary military personnel of the first category, the reserve age limit increased from 35 to 40 years, for those with the second category – from 45 to 50 years, and for those in the third category – from 50 to 55 years.

Who is in reserve?

After completing their service, all military personnel are enlisted in the reserves according to the following categories:

• rank and file: soldiers, sailors, sergeants, foremen, warrant officers and midshipmen. The maximum period of stay in the reserve is up to 55 years (previously it was up to 50 years);
• junior officers: junior lieutenants, lieutenants, senior lieutenants and captains. They are in reserve for up to 60 years;
• senior officers: majors, captains 3–1st rank, lieutenant colonels and colonels. Remains in reserve until age 65;
• senior officers: major general, lieutenant general, colonel general, army general, as well as rear admiral and admiral. They are in reserve for up to 70 years.

The reserve also includes:

• graduated from a military university or college;
• those who have completed their studies at military training centers of federal universities;
• have completed alternative civil service;
• exempted from conscription or deferred for up to 27 years;
• those who have not completed military service due to conscription without legal grounds.

When and for how long will the fees be

Typically, military training is announced at the end of winter or beginning of spring; a special decree is issued for this purpose. According to the law, the duration of military training cannot exceed two months, and in total, from the moment of transfer to the reserve, a serviceman can spend no more than one year at training. You can call up a reservist for military training no more than once every three years.

During the training camp, reservists are released from work or study, retaining their place, and receive an average salary or a stipend at their place of permanent work or study.

The summons arrives at least ten days before the start of the training camp; it is handed over personally to the conscript and against signature.

Who is exempt from fees

The following are exempt from conscription for military training:

• women;
• citizens with three or more minor children;
• persons who have completed alternative service;
• retired less than two years ago;
• citizens reserved for state authorities and local governments for the period of mobilization and in wartime;
• employees of the Department of Internal Affairs and National Guard troops, firefighters, customs officers and employees of the Federal Penitentiary Service;
• civilian personnel of the RF Armed Forces, as well as active pilots, railway workers, sailors, teachers and those who are busy during the sowing season.