OREANDA-NEWS. September 27, 2011. Issues discussed at the meeting with commanders of divisions and units of the Armed Forces, Interior Ministry and the Federal Drug Control Service, involved in strategic Centre-2011 military exercises, included personnel and military reform, and service pay.

* * *

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Comrades,

The large-scale Centre-2011military exercises have been completed. They involved not only the troops of the Central Military District, but also – and in fact this is particularly interesting and important – military units of other bodies deployed in the area, other law enforcement agencies, I mean the Interior Ministry, the Federal Security Service, Emergency Ministry, the Federal Penitentiary Service, Federal Drug Control Service and the Federal Guard Service, as well as army units of the CSTO member states and Ukraine.

In general, judging from the reports that I received, the troops showed a high level of military training. The results are still to be analysed but today I would like to hear your opinions as commanders of the military units that participated in the exercises.
It is essential for modern Armed Forces to be able to interact effectively with other units, other security agencies, to cooperate with our foreign partners’ armies. This kind of coordination and joint combat training are in fact the key to achieving success in a wide range of situations. The exercises focused to a large extent on interagency and intergovernmental cooperation. I would like you to tell me briefly your views on what it all looked like and whether you were able to communicate effectively.

We are reforming our Armed Forces, consistently creating new features and improving the organisational structure, the training system and support for the army and navy. Nevertheless, there are certain difficulties, which is natural because the task that we have undertaken is enormous. As all of you know very well – those of you who have served for a long time and those who began service only recently – our Armed Forces have not seen a reform on this scale in recent years. This is the most complex, the most profound and, hopefully, the most productive reform, because the changes are there for all to see. Some say these changes are beneficial, others criticise them or see them in a different light.

I would like to hear your views on the reform, especially, as I said, there are certain problems. We have reduced the officers’ corps and there have been cases when officers were appointed to sergeant positions. I would like us to review personnel issues together.

“It is essential for modern Armed Forces to be able to interact effectively with other units, other security agencies, to cooperate with our foreign partners’ armies.”

The army is disposing of inessential functions that are performed by specialised organisations in most countries. We started creating such organisations three years ago. In September we established a joint-stock company called Oboronservis. I would like you to tell me about the ways in which the creation of this agency has affected the daily life of the army. The expenses involved are considerable but we must be sure that these expenses serve to improve the life of servicemen, to improve life within units and day-to-day organisation, and that this money is being spent wisely. If that is so, if you agree with that, I would ask you to touch on that as well.

The exchange of command experience between the Armed Forces and other security and law enforcement agencies is very important. Naturally, this applies to personnel certification, which is held annually in the Armed Forces, and to personnel rotation, which is just being introduced in the Armed Forces. I would also like to hear how this work is progressing.

Finally, another very important issue: financial incentives for military personnel, a subject we have been paying a great deal of attention to and have made all the necessary decisions, despite the fact that there were opposing opinions and one might even say some open resistance to this policy. Nevertheless, I believe that we have made some extremely important decisions for the future of the Armed Forces.

I would like you to tell me how the system of financial incentives is working on the ground, in your units. Modern Armed Forces must have proper conditions for service and a fully developed system of social guarantees, a system that will ensure high living standards for servicemen and their families not only in the current situation, but also in the future. This is a very important aspect of the reform and we will closely focus on it. It is being monitored by the President and the Government of the Russian Federation and we will certainly continue our efforts.

“We are reforming our Armed Forces, consistently creating new features and improving the organisational structure, the training system and support for the army and navy. This is the most complex, the most profound and, hopefully, the most productive reform.”

The next issue is related to weapons, the supplies of new military technology, which also involves major expenses. For the first time in several decades new technology is actively being supplied to the army and navy. Perhaps it would also be useful if you reported to me on this.

That is our agenda. So I ask you all to speak out, and if there are any questions for me, please do not hesitate to ask.

Let's get to work.