Zavarzin noted that society is sick, and its illnesses affects the security structures, including the elite forces. Zavarzin said that the share of recruits who did not work or study before the call-up increased 25% last year. Every fifth serviceman called up in autumn 2004, was brought up in a family with only one parent. Around 2.5% of recruits are orphans. Around 12% of recruits have mental illnesses. Opinion polls show that 50% of respondents faced violence and crime before the call up; some of them committed crimes. Around 40% of privates have low morale and cannot be appointed as junior commanders. Around 40% of recruits cannot be sent to strategic units. In general, the number of people who cannot join the Army because of medical reasons has increased from 5% to 20% over the past few years. At the same time, military-medical commissions find only a quarter of people suffering from mental illnesses, alcoholism and drug-addiction. Three-quarters of such people are called up to the Army.
Those are stunning figures.
1 posted on 03/30/2005 4:58:03 PM PST by FreedomCalls
"Thirdly, Zavarzin thinks that replacing sergeants and master sergeants with contract servicemen will make it possible to strengthen military discipline in the Army."