Alternative service in the army: a way to "slope" or a conscious decision?

Before each young man of military age, one day the question arises whether to serve in the army or in every possible way try to avoid doing duty to the Fatherland. An alternative service in the army, as many think, can become one of the solutions to this issue. Is it really?

It is necessary to understand what an alternative service in the army really is, and whether it will help to "cut off" from military service. In accordance with the Federal Law "On Alternative Civil Service (On ACS)" adopted by the State Duma on July 25, 2002, this activity is not, in fact, a service in the army. This is a job that is replaced by military service, with income and days off.

Citizens who are sent by military commissariats to an alternative service, work for a certain time under an employment contract at state enterprises. Most often - hospitals, nursing homes, social services. Recently, work for "alternative" is provided by cultural institutions: circuses, cultural centers, clubs, theaters.

A young man of draft age (from 18 to 27 years old), who decided to replace military service with an alternative civilian, should apply to the conscription commission with a statement in which he justifies his desire. Most often, the reason stated in the application is belonging to a religious organization or one's own moral beliefs that prohibit taking weapons into hands. The decision that the conscript can be sent to the ACS, the recruiting commission of the military commissariat department takes after the citizen passes the draft commission and medical examination.

In the case when a young man is fit for military service without restrictions (actually healthy) or fit with insignificant restrictions, the chairman of the commission may decide to replace the service in the army with an alternative (given that the draftee's application has been submitted on time). If a citizen of draft age has the right to a deferment or is admittedly limited to a suitable one, the question of whether he needs an alternative service in the army disappears by himself. He is either granted a postponement (for study or marital status, or for other reasons), or a decision is made to enroll in the reserve for his state of health.

Do not think that an alternative service in the army can be a better option than military service on conscription. By law, the term of the ACS exceeds the service in the army by almost two times. That is, if a conscript serviceman is on duty in the army for a year, the "alternative" is obliged to work for 21 months. Not the best prospect for those wishing to evade military service, is not it? Moreover, wages in those institutions to which conscripts are sent for the passage of ACS are rather small. In addition, a young man sent to an alternative civilian service does not have the right to terminate the contract earlier than the due time.

So, alternative military service is not the most successful option to "cut off" from the army. The state has provided much for the Law on Military Duty and Military Service to be implemented in practice. And the alternative civil service is only a guarantee of granting constitutional rights and freedoms to citizens of the country, supplementing this law. To take advantage of the opportunity to replace the military service of the ACS is better for those young people who actually have certain beliefs or beliefs that are contrary to the performance of military duty. Judging by the statistical data, there are not so many such citizens, but they are there, and a plan for referring to an alternative service is being created in every recruiting campaign.