The "I want to join the Russian Army" Thread

Hello,
So I'm moving from United States back to Moscow at the end of the summer, I'm 23, done with college, ready to go home! I can't find a lot of information out there on joining VDV, requirements, how long the contracts are, etc. Any help would be appreciated. Also I know in the U.S. military college graduates can go to officer school, is it the same way in Russia?

Thank you in advance

http://www.contract.mil.ru/

Thank you very much.

Russian military opens door for foreigners (Join Russian Foreign legion!)

Even as President Dmitry Medvedev announced a three-fold increase in the basic pay of the servicemen, the Defence Ministry has opened the doors for foreigners to join the Russian Armed Forces. Speaking

before the army commanders in the Nizhnynovogorod region, Medvedev promised that in spite of budget deficit a lieutenant rank officer will get the basic pay of 50 thousand roubles.

According to the amended law posted on the Defence Ministry website, a citizen of any foreign country, aged 18-30, can now sign an initial 5-year contract to join the Russian army.

A good command over Russian language and absence of criminal record are the basic requirements for joining the Russian Armed Forces. As an incentive, the recruits will be offered Russian citizenship after three years of service.

In 2009, about 350 foreign citizens, mostly from CIS countries were serving in the Russian Armed Forces, however, there were also from Latvia, Germany, and Israel.

According to RIA Novosti, in the past year 699 foreigners applied to join the Russian military but most were rejected for having poor knowledge of Russian, health problems, or low level of education.

In line with an ongoing military reform, the Russian Armed Forces will be downsized to 1 million personnel by 2016, with 150,000 officers and about 745,000 soldiers.

Back in late 1990s, several Russian experts and lawmakers had proposed to the erstwhile Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Charnajit Singh to promote the teaching of Russian language in the schools of the state under the three-language formula to prepare the labour force and servicemen for deployment in the sparsely populated Russian regions bordering China.


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2633961/posts

fuck, i want to join xD

i realy actaully would try to sign up if wouldn't have got my apprenticeship place as a cook

I think you should go there after you finish your apprentice perhaps you may become Russia Meal Cooker

well see

i always wanted to become a soldier and was interested in military but whe the time came to get a job after finishing school it was not posseble for me to join the german army, even tought to try it in the french legion

when i finish my apprenticeship i wll probably try again to join the german army or to sign up in the russian

Why is not possible for you to join German Army ?

Im curios about that

Wan2345 wrote:Why is not possible for you to join German Army ?

Im curios about that

because im not a german citizen yet, its a long bureaucratic and costly proces to get citezenship in germany so i never did it and whith that coulden't join

NationalRus wrote:

Wan2345 wrote:Why is not possible for you to join German Army ?

Im curios about that

because im not a german citizen yet, its a long bureaucratic and costly proces to get citezenship in germany so i never did it and whith that coulden't join

I think you most probably could join Russia Foreign Legion because they are no requirement for Foreign Legion. After you been with the legion for 3 years you may apply for Russian Citizen but there is requirement.

1. No criminal record
2. Need to speak Russian

Once you get the citizen, You may apply Russia Military itself but there is requirement too.

1.Qualification
2.Physical Fitness
3.Need to speak Russian (Obviously)
4.No criminal record (Obviously)

They better be careful with that.

In Amerika they used to let Green Card holders serve in the military and if you served 3 years honorably...you could PAY $375 and apply to be a US Citizen. No security clearance while they were in "Green Card Status" in the US military.

I had a Mexican Green Card holder under me in the military. He said he was told to get as many names-Social Security numbers as he could because they would BUY that information from him in Mexico. They'd use it for fake ID's, to get credit cards, loans, mortgages.

I was going to turn him in...but President Bush was just on the tv that week saying "Green Card holders" in the US military only had to serve 1 day in the US military and get 100% free immediate citizenship......I was shocked. Plus our Captain was taking that Green Card holder in our military who had no security clearance out onto the flightline where top secret things were happening.

I'm sure that Green Card holder sold all he saw and found while he was in the US military.

Same would happen to Russia....Well no....I'm sure your Officers have common sense and wouldn't let those people see Secret or Top Secret stuff.

That's very strange 'news'. Russian army was opened for foreigners since the 1990's, and the Federal law on conscription and military service hasn't been changed in this aspect since.

AFAIK I think the foreigners it was open to was people in other former Soviet states as a way of allowing them to get Russian citizenship.

When I was younger the discipline didn't really appeal to me, plus physical fitness is not really something I focus on. Yes, I am a big fat tub of lard... think comic book guy on the Simpsons but older and with less hair...

Now as I get older I kind regret not joining... I would think the experience would have made me a better person.

I have a clean record but I don't speak or read Russian and am way too old now...

But I would have loved being issued with stuff... don't think I would have liked having to give it back at the end however...

I am a bit like Burt Gummer from the Tremors movies, except I prefer Russian to western weapons.

Formally there are no special conditions for the former Soviet republics' citizens to join, but for sure ethnic Russians who suddenly found themselves outside Russia were the first people this 'Legion' was created for. At least i'd be very surprised if i met a guy from New Zealand serving somewhere in Siberia.

Yes, apparently there is quite a different climate in Siberia to what we are used to here in NZ... we recently had snow on the ground... it was almost 3cm deep so all the schools closed and roads were closed. The snow stayed on the ground for 2 days and it got down to a freezing -1 degree C... I have never felt cold like it!

Have you returned to Russia yet? Did you join?
Anyway, I wish you the best of luck.

yes, keep us posted if you can.

I am sure most of us here would be interested in hearing about your experiences.

Good luck BTW.

I want to join the foreign legion...the only requirements is speak russian and have no criminal offenses...so I guess a DUI a couple years ago would rule me out?

Alright, I'm not trying to play moderator here, but since nobody's said anything, your first post is supposed to be in the members and introductions thread, that way everybody can get to know who you are as well as welcome you to the forum. Thank you.

Jame2702 wrote:I want to join the foreign legion...the only requirements is speak russian and have no criminal offenses...so I guess a DUI a couple years ago would rule me out?

Rules, requirements and regulations in the Russian military (as well as Russia in general), are rarely so set-in-stone and inflexible. If you are serious about your ambition, start the process, get talking to some people, show how much you want it - and see what happens..

I agree.

I would think the circumstance of your DUI will be considered and taken into account.

The rule about criminal offenses is probably to stop people creating new identities and lives in Russia to hide from shameful pasts.

Mr.Kalishnikov47 wrote:Alright, I'm not trying to play moderator here, but since nobody's said anything, your first post is supposed to be in the members and introductions thread, that way everybody can get to know who you are as well as welcome you to the forum. Thank you.

Could not say that better

Hey again. I have a few years before I'm capable of moving anywhere on my own, but I have a few questions. I was born and raised in NYC, USA, but my family descends from Russia. I have a burning patriotism for Russia and the USSR, and a slight opposition to the US and NATO. I wish to go to Russia when I'm about 18-20. I began learning Russia not too long ago using pimsleur, I memorized the alphabet, and it's coming along nicely. To the point, however, I would like to move there to join the VDV, Navy or the Bureau of Prisons (I forgot the exact name). As an American, I've lived in a world surrounded by Anti-Russian propaganda, some of which is difficult to sort. In my understanding, dedovchina is the hazing of conscripts, and I wish to become a fully contracted soldier. Not to sound weak, but are the stories of abuse and forced prostitution among the military for contract soldiers really as bad as America makes it sound? Are the VDV an all volunteer force (I read that here a few minute ago)?

Also in my understanding, if I signed a 5 year contract, I would be given the option for citizenship in 3? I also read that foreigners can join without an education? This is just in the worst of situations, I'm planning on getting my US high school diploma. Before I move to Russia, will I have to get it translated or converted in some way to the Russian equivalent? (I read its called the attestat something). I've read everything from Russian people being nice and caring to being brutal and anti-American to the core. In the Military, I would assume some are fiercely anti-American, but with my dislike for America and love for Russia, would they single me out in some way?

I've read through the Russian Embassy site, and similar Military sites, but I haven't gotten a clear example on the salary. I read Lieutenants are guaranteed about 50,000 rubles a year (or month?) so if I'm correct, an entry level enlisted person would get $600 USD a year? Can a commanding officer take that salary and keep it for himself in some cases? I also read that most of Russia is incredibly poor and starving, etc, and I've also read the people are doing just fine. I'm having a difficult time clearing up between American exaggerated anti-Russian propaganda and the real thing. Can anyone clear it up?

EDIT: Also, how long is VDV training, and what is it like? Does Russia have an organized training structure like the US, or are recruits just given to a CO and he trains them how he sees fit? I'm also a practitioner of Systema for what it's worth

Here is best VDV there is. Do not know have you seen it before.

I think you can have a hint of a way it is.

I just began watching it. I can't understand anything, but that's fine for now. So far I've gathered it's a more disciplined version of the US Army Airborne, in a way.

Edit: Holy hell, not even 2 minutes in and that was way more intense than anything the US does