Life As A Soviet Recruit

[MolliG]

Note: This is from one of the Forces 'xx books published in the '80s, hence there could very well be mistakes, et cetera. It's also very likely that bias is present with it being the Cold War...

Life as a Soviet recruit

Traditionally, when a young man was called up to join the Tsar's army, his departure was celebrated as a wake, for his family feared that they would never see hear from him or see him again. That attitude lingers today. Compulsory service in the 5,000,000-strong Red Army is universally hated.

Training starts at school where pupils are taught drill and weapons training and are lectured on the glories of the Red Army. Conscripts are registered at 17 and called up a year later. Each year, in spring and autumn, round-ups or 1.3 million young men are taken into the Red Army.

Not everybody goes. Students, largely as the result of the Afghanistan experience, are no longer called up. Families with influence make sure their sons stay at home. And many young men simply go on the run, risking three years in the labour camps/prison.

Those sucked into the system start their two years service as 'greenies' at a recruit centre. They arrive with hangovers from their own wake and in old clothes, fearful that good clothes will be stolen. Their first expierence of army life is to have their head shaven. Many of them, even those carrying school certificates of Readiness for Labour and Defence, are in poor condition and, unable to cope with army life, are sent home.

The remainder start a harsh regime of training not unlike recruit training in most armies but with far fewer amenities and comforts.

Food is plentiful but boring. 'Kasha' - buckwheat porridge - is a staple of the recruits diet. He gets herrings, occasionally pork or mutton/lamb, thick soup, bread and fruit compote but very little fresh salad or vegetables. Cheese and eggs are rarely served. Everything is eaten with a spoon.

On this diet recruits undergo a harsh routine of physical training and intensely boring political indoctrination. There is a 2-mile (3.2km) run before breakfast then drill, assualt course, drill, weapons training and drill. Lectures and kit cleaning occupy the evenings. There might just be time to watch television. Any old soldier would know the routine.

Compared with Western or even other Soviet Bloc recruits, however, the greenies live in spartan conditions. They sleep in bunks in overcrowded barrack huts. There are none of the amenities built into moden Western barracks. There is no constant hot water. The Soviet recruit gets a steam bath once a week and personal hygiene is a bleak affair. A strip of white cloth is sewn on to his uniform collar to show his officer if he has washed his neck.

He gets paid £7 a month and there is little that he can do with that. Not that he has much chance to spend it. He is not allowed out of barracks until he is fully trained and then passes are had to win. Officially, a Soviet conscript is allowed ten days home leave during his two years service but unless he is serving near his home travel difficulties make it worthless.

Facilites for entertainment are as spartan as the barracks. Sometimes the recruits are entertained by groups of singers and dancers but as they work from six in the morning until ten at night, with the evenings spent in the 'Lenin rooms' whey they recieve political indoctrination, there is little time for relaxation.

[aartamen]

Many of them, even those carrying school certificates of Readiness for Labour and Defence, are in poor condition and, unable to cope with army life, are sent home.

Ha, they wished.

Overall the service in the army was about as enjoyable as a prison sentence. Plus the new guys were subjected to lots of humiliation and physical abuse. It was nearly universal, caused murders, suicides and desertions.

[Russian Texan]

Many of them, even those carrying school certificates of Readiness for Labour and Defence, are in poor condition and, unable to cope with army life, are sent home.

Ha, they wished.

Overall the service in the army was about as enjoyable as a prison sentence. Plus the new guys were subjected to lots of humiliation and physical abuse. It was nearly universal, caused murders, suicides and desertions.

What year and where did you serve?

[mattnwnc03]

i worked with a fella who was in the soviet army, he was in the infantry. he said the army" lost him" for a couple weeks, they didnt know were he was. he said he slept in a basement because nobody on the post would take him.its hard to believe but he said it was true. :lol:

[Sergei]

Many of them, even those carrying school certificates of Readiness for Labour and Defence, are in poor condition and, unable to cope with army life, are sent home.

Ha, they wished.

Overall the service in the army was about as enjoyable as a prison sentence. Plus the new guys were subjected to lots of humiliation and physical abuse. It was nearly universal, caused murders, suicides and desertions.

What year and where did you serve?
Yep, inquiring minds want to know. :D

[Sergei]

Quote of the week
[quote="aartamen
Overall the service in the army was about as enjoyable as a prison sentence. [/quote]
Holy ****, did you make it up or are you a braindamaged guy? :bash: It is not enjoyable but it is a service nevertheless, and if the guy like you would appear in my unit I would kick his teeth in.

[il]

Sergei this is you enforcing discipline then?

http://www.*********.com/elements/russia/russ%20soldiers.wmv

[mack pl]

Sergei this is you enforcing discipline then?

http://www.*********.com/elements/russia/russ%20soldiers.wmv
[no flame]

well, few months ago someone posted this video and we discuss about it...huh...it was very big thread If Im correct...well, most of Russians didn't saw anything bad on this video...personaly, i dont care, its Russian army, but even in other countrys **** like that happens....well, I dont wanna be in situation like this, coz If some asshole kick me i always reply ;)

regards

[no flame]

[UkrainianAmerican]

Quote of the week
[quote="aartamen
Overall the service in the army was about as enjoyable as a prison sentence.
Holy ****, did you make it up or are you a braindamaged guy? :bash: It is not enjoyable but it is a service nevertheless, and if the guy like you would appear in my unit I would kick his teeth in.[/quote]
:lol:
Maybe thats why some people dont like it too much :D

[RomanS]

Many of them, even those carrying school certificates of Readiness for Labour and Defence, are in poor condition and, unable to cope with army life, are sent home.

Ha, they wished.

Overall the service in the army was about as enjoyable as a prison sentence. Plus the new guys were subjected to lots of humiliation and physical abuse. It was nearly universal, caused murders, suicides and desertions.

Im too interested to find out where did you serve?

[b.scheller]

I don't know about being sent home, my father served in the LWP (*Army of the People's Republic of Poland); he said that the people in charge did not care unless you had a physical inability to perform in the army. So if you had ashma, (supposedly only miners had it) then you were screwed.

As for those who were able to get out of the service, they had to serve 2 years in the worst and most dangerous coal mines in the country.

* I know that I said the Polish army but I'm sure that the life in the Polish army reg's were milder then the Soviet ones

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

From my fathers stories, the main problem with the Soviet Army was the fact that there was alot of unorganization. At least he found that true at the Soviet Army bases in Poland. Near the city where he lived there was both an army and airforce base. He used to go shopping there, when the Polish government began to give out ration stamps. He said that with the right amount of money or vodka you could buy alot of stuff. The best items were always sold by officers or those in charge of equipment. You could buy persian rugs, furniture, spare parts to engines and vehicles, candy (he said that during the late 70's and early 80's, Soviet candy was superior to most other brands), canned food, uniforms, watches and other junk.

[Herrmannek]

Soviet candy was superior to most other brands

Asked parents about that matter... they don't share opinion of your dad...Yes russian candys were....sometimes, and this is only good thing someone could say about them ;)

[b.scheller]

Well I'm mainly talking about the time before "Stan Wojenny" (martial law) when all consumer good's had fallen in quanitity and quality.

[Herrmannek]

Well I'm mainly talking about the time before "Stan Wojenny" (martial law) when all consumer good's had fallen in quanitity and quality.
rofl , you even don't realise what you've just said... Spermskii will kill you moraly :) ... You insinuate that quality of russian candys was hurt by lack of availability of polish products and working force in the time of war state?
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[b.scheller]

:cantbeli:

oops... :lol:

Anyway in all honest respect, Soviet made candy was good; it wasn't sold in large quanities at the state stores. Which made it rare, and before the time when ration stamps were introduced, people did not see the need to buy foreign sweets. As soon as the hard times came, alot of people were able to get Soviet candy which was readily available in the right circles as much as East German candy which I hear was unedible.

[ChuckThunder]

:cantbeli:

oops... :lol:

Anyway in all honest respect, Soviet made candy was good; it wasn't sold in large quanities at the state stores. Which made it rare, and before the time when ration stamps were introduced, people did not see the need to buy foreign sweets. As soon as the hard times came, alot of people were able to get Soviet candy which was readily available in the right circles as much as East German candy which I hear was unedible.

Funny movie about East Germany coming out soon...

http://www.sonyclassics.com/goodbye/flash.html

[DE_Six]

It's already out, I saw it last winter. It's pretty good. Although the premisces look funny, it's quite dramatic.

[b.scheller]

I've heard about it, unfortunetly they do not have the theatres that show it in my city. Anyway once its shown on IFC (Independent Film Channel) or its out on tape, I'll take it.

[16 OBr SpN]

Ha, they wished.

Overall the service in the army was about as enjoyable as a prison sentence. Plus the new guys were subjected to lots of humiliation and physical abuse. It was nearly universal, caused murders, suicides and desertions.

Listen, why don't you post or PM me your creds before I comment on your bull****!

[Sergei]

Quote of the week
[quote="aartamen
Overall the service in the army was about as enjoyable as a prison sentence.
Holy ****, did you make it up or are you a braindamaged guy? :bash: It is not enjoyable but it is a service nevertheless, and if the guy like you would appear in my unit I would kick his teeth in.
:lol:
Maybe thats why some people dont like it too much :D[/quote]

Maybe that's why so many assholes who never served would like to comment on it so much? Huh?

[il]

Can someone translate this video, why is this man (http://www.*********.com/elements/russia/russexec2.wmv) shot? The description says "Russian soldiers execute a comrade".

[mack pl]

Can someone translate this video, why is this man (http://www.*********.com/elements/russia/russexec2.wmv) shot? The description says "Russian soldiers execute a comrade".

I didn't watched this video, and I dont want to watch it.

but, I could say to you one thing mr Il- is that some kind of provokation(sp.), well, Im not Russian lover, but If you post here some kind of ****(sick videos) you wanna start flame war or something?Am I correct? Whats your intention? You just wanna to know what they are talking? Huh, so, maybe our Russian friends will translate it for you, but.....well, I smell flame war here................Im neutral....

have a nice day everybody....

don't kill eachother here boys ;)

regards

[il]

but, I could say to you one thing mr Il- is that some kind of provokation(sp.), well, Im not Russian lover, but If you post here some kind of ****(sick videos) you wanna start flame war or something?

Certainly not! My first posts just happened to consern the subject. I am not trying to state anything against the russian army in general. This video (and the first one) just left me wondering how common is this kind of behaviour. I am just interested to know why is this man killed, since there must be a, atleast in some extent, an explanation...

[Javehn]

Do you really bellieve that this thing is happening in Russian Army ?
This movie is Chechen execution of Russian soldier .

[Russian Texan]

Can someone translate this video, why is this man (http://www.*********.com/elements/russia/russexec2.wmv) shot? The description says "Russian soldiers execute a comrade".

Do they even look like soldiers to you or for the matter of fact, do they look like Russian soldiers? I can't even imagine someone believing that caption/title
:cantbeli:

The video shows Chechens executing a civilian, they claim him to be spying for Russians and present themselves as some kind of security agents hunting for spies. I doubt that they had to do anything with a Chechen security agency or whatever the name of it, I think they just wanted to kill a man and get it on tape.

[il]

Do they even look like soldiers to you or for the matter of fact, do they look like Russian soldiers? I can't even imagine someone believing that caption/title
:cantbeli:

The video shows Chechens executing a civilian, they claim him to be spying for Russians and present themselves as some kind of security agents hunting for spies. I doubt that they had to do anything with a Chechen security agency or whatever the name of it, I think they just wanted to kill a man and get it on tape.

Thanks for clearing that out. I did not belive the caption was correct, since the site is very much anti-war propagandish. Because the poor quality of the clip and not understanding the language, I could not tell.

[UkrainianAmerican]

Quote of the week
[quote="aartamen
Overall the service in the army was about as enjoyable as a prison sentence.
Holy ****, did you make it up or are you a braindamaged guy? :bash: It is not enjoyable but it is a service nevertheless, and if the guy like you would appear in my unit I would kick his teeth in.
:lol:
Maybe thats why some people dont like it too much :D

Maybe that's why so many assholes who never served would like to comment on it so much? Huh?[/quote]
I was not saying hes right, but the way ou commented was counter productive IMO. :roll:

[mack pl]

but, I could say to you one thing mr Il- is that some kind of provokation(sp.), well, Im not Russian lover, but If you post here some kind of ****(sick videos) you wanna start flame war or something?

Certainly not! My first posts just happened to consern the subject. I am not trying to state anything against the russian army in general. This video (and the first one) just left me wondering how common is this kind of behaviour. I am just interested to know why is this man killed, since there must be a, atleast in some extent, an explanation...

ok, thanks for explantion.

regards

PS.5th star ;) woot

[aartamen]

Im too interested to find out where did you serve?

I was lucky enough to avoid the draft by enrolling in a college.

Russian service sucked ass. I've had enough first hand accounts of my class and schoolmates to form and informed opinion.



Proofreading is important.

[aartamen]

and if the guy like you would appear in my unit I would kick his teeth in.

You'd have two in the CM and one in the head before you could say "kick".



Can't type when angry.

[aartamen]

Can someone translate this video, why is this man (http://www.*********.com/elements/russia/russexec2.wmv) shot? The description says "Russian soldiers execute a comrade".

That's ****ing sick. Pardon my French.

As far as I can tell, they do not speak Russian.

[aartamen]

Let me expand on my original comment.

Life in the Soviet Army was very much like a prison. The enlisted had very little freedom of movement, they were under constant supervision and were made to perform menial, senless chicken**** duties or jobs that would benefit their officers. For instance it was extremely wide-spread that the soldiers would build or maintain their commander's house. Which in itself was not a horrible thing, just made you feel like ****.

Despite the fact that they were under strickt supervision, they were still subject to humiliation and abuse (hazing does not quite cover it, but close) by other soldiers. Those who spent in the service over a year, typically. The officers usually would not interfere. Some units had this problem exceed all concievable bounds, some had very little. It often depended on the nationality of the involved. People would affiliate along their nationalities. Very much like prison. Think mexican gangs vs. arians.
In a limited number of cases, the young soldiers who either really got it bad or were just fragile ended up leaving their untis, killing their tormentors or/and themselves.

The guys who stuck it out together were very often very loyal to each other, and in general tended to remember the better of it rather than the worse. On the other hand they might have been the abusers, so it was all fun and games for them.

[Herrmannek]

Lets talk about candys... I like carmel hard orange ones with looks like part of orange..
Something like that, but those are dried oranges I think or jellys not hard carmels:
http://community.webshots.com/s/image5/3/50/35/65535035acUGBK_ph.jpg

[Russian Texan]

and if the guy like you would appear in my unit I would kick his teeth in.

You'd have two in the CM and one in the head before you could say "kick".



Can't type when angry.

Слышь, ты пидар, а ты не в Америке случайно? Очень бы хотелось встретиться и побеседовать и может даже лично получить "two in the CM and one in the head before you could say "kick". "
Ты не стесняйся, давай забьём стрелочку, а?
Шо блядь, очко не кружка?


Такие опущенки как ты не заслуживают ни хуя кроме кирзы в ебальник!! И желательно не менее двух раз.

[b.scheller]

herman...arent those landrynki? man those are impossible to find over here. all the Polish candy here in Canada seems to be of crappier quality. Krowki are stale as rock, and the chocolate seems not to have that same taste as it did back in the old country.... rofl

[ArtofPain]

to aartamen : College boy heh. Did you ever been in prison? Or in Army?
to Russian Texan: Cool! Родной казармой повеяло. ДМБ-91!!!!

[Herrmannek]

herman...arent those landrynki? man those are impossible to find over here. all the Polish candy here in Canada seems to be of crappier quality. Krowki are stale as rock, and the chocolate seems not to have that same taste as it did back in the old country.... rofl

Hard candys are popular here, we havy manny kinds of stuffed ones (Cukierki rather than landrynki) and unstuffed(Landrynki) ...Just take a walk... they don't cost mutch esspecialy for wealthy foreginers :) ... As for "Cows", rocky cows happen here also, but soft pulling ones(esspecialy fillings, so check your teths are allright :) ) happen more often, I can asure you that.. They just dry quickly and often aren't packed in hermetic bags and sold for wieght so you know physics ;)....

Also don't forget about polish baken "kandys" like donuts without hole (Pączki)only one kind externally, but variety of stuffings (Rose marmolade is the best, "z Różą", but ask if Rose is "real" or if this is some kind or "rosy""sintetic" Jam ), Alos pączek is good when marmolade wasn't injected after frying but before , you can tell that after hole marmolade will go out on your shirt when you bit them. We have also western kind donuts but they are **** IMHO :)...
Don't forget about "Bułki słodkie" they are even better thing than donuts and variety of kinds is great esspecialy if you'll travel not sit in one place, you will se Poles loves breads most :)...

[Abbyy]

Так я и думал, что aartmen из бывших. Ну кто ещё может в Америке знать что то о кавказских проблемах.

aartmen shares common opinion about how awful Russian/Soviet army service was. But truly speaking his opinion mostly originates from his cowardice. He didn't have enough balls to enlist and now trying to explain his behavior by how afwul Soviet army was. You visited wrong forum man - it's not a right place to complain about hazings you've never seen by your own eyes.

[Sergei]

and if the guy like you would appear in my unit I would kick his teeth in.

You'd have two in the CM and one in the head before you could say "kick".



Can't type when angry.
Bend over, bitch! Какие мы храбрые по Интернету, если сам в армии не был не позорься и пургу не гони. В армии из такого говна дурь быстро выбивают, по-другому там не получается.

[UkrainianAmerican]

Well, I will post a story about my uncle.
He was a slacker in high school, so he didnt get into a university, so he got drafted for 2 years into the army. I am not sure of the exact name of the unit, but I do know that its duty was to guard a gas pipeline somewhere in Ukraine I beleive. At first "dedovshina" picked on him and his friends a bit. Then, when they were in an isolated area, guarding a refilling station, that dedovshina came and told them to refill their ****. My uncle was a pretty outgoing guy, so by that time he made plenty of friends with the other greenhorns. So once the dedovshina exited the vehicle, my uncle and his friend f*cked em up. The main dedovshina dude landed in the hospital (concussion) and his parents were complaiining that the actions of my uncle and his buddies were very violent and irresponsible ( rofl )
The next 9 months (that he had before his duty ended) were a breeze since no one reallly wanted a repeat. :)
Hope you enjoyed it.

[Sergei]

Такие опущенки как ты не заслуживают ни хуя кроме кирзы в ебальник!! И желательно не менее двух раз.
Господа, я тоже хочу поучаствовать! :lol:

[ArtofPain]

Такие опущенки как ты не заслуживают ни хуя кроме кирзы в ебальник!! И желательно не менее двух раз.
Господа, я тоже хочу поучаствовать! :lol:
С билетами туговато! Да и не пустят нас, таких красивых, в Штаты! :D

[Sergei]

Такие опущенки как ты не заслуживают ни хуя кроме кирзы в ебальник!! И желательно не менее двух раз.
Господа, я тоже хочу поучаствовать! :lol:
С билетами туговато! Да и не пустят нас, таких красивых, в Штаты! :D

Да уж четыре человека это много, местные пиндосы сразу завопят: The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming! :D

[ArtofPain]

Да уж четыре человека это много, местные пиндосы сразу завопят: The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming! :D
Ну двое то точно уже там! ;)
А насчёт coming, это ты в каком смысле? :lol:
И потом поговорку знаешь? "Солдат салагу не обидит!"
For others: Sorry guys! :oops:
We have idiom here "If you avoid Army service - you're lucky, if not - feel youself proud!"

[aartamen]

Слышь, ты пидар, а ты не в Америке случайно?

I live in NJ, come by, you'll be my bitch.

[aartamen]

Да уж четыре человека это много, местные пиндосы сразу завопят: The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming! :D

It won't come to the locals. I'll **** you up by myself.


Don;t you understand I do this to piss you off. Primitive Russkies.

[Abbyy]

Íà ñàìîì äåëå ìíîãèå èç çäåñü ïðèñóòñòâóþùèõ íå ñëóæèëè, íî ãîðäèòñÿ ýòèì, ÿ ñìîòðþ, òîëüêî îäèí. :)

Sorry boyz, it seems we're finished with him :) Oops, we're not... :cantbeli:

[aartamen]

However, what I wrote is true. The service was a pain in the ass. Sometimes literally. It got pretty bad in the mid-eithies.

Again like in prison, only the brutal force counted. If you personally could withstand the pressure or had a gang of buddies to stand up together, you were OK.

You could tell from the snarling of the Russkies, than I am 100% right.

[aartamen]

Очень бы хотелось встретиться и побеседовать и может даже лично получить "two in the CM and one in the head before you could say "kick".

I'll even use a wimpy Makarov, for your personal enjoyment.

[Abbyy]

Ñëûøü, òû ïèäàð, à òû íå â Àìåðèêå ñëó÷àéíî?

I live in NJ, come by, you'll be my bitch.

:) Did you've ever seen Texan? :) I doubt you're right inthis opinion :)

[UkrainianAmerican]

aartamen are you russian?
I am a little confused here. :|

[RomanS]

aartamen

Слушай блядь тварь ты позорная. Таких сучих блядей в армии пиздили, пиздят, и слава богу будут пиздить до конца. Жалко ты гандон далеко живешь, я с радостью бы подключился с пацанами тут тебе ебало разбить.

Ты петух смотри там в Нью Джерси, акуратней живи. А то я уверен что ты падонок не мало людей и там обидел. Тебе правильно Абби сказал, ты скотина видел хоть RussianTexan? Нам будет просто обидно что от тебя он нам ничего не оставит, разьебет так что придется на твои обломки ссать.

А так заезжай сука сюда, я в Аризоне. Адрес с удовольствием дам. Привози свой ПМ. Постреляем мы с тобой, пидор гнойный.

[Operation Ivy]

vodka

[FDF_Hemppis]

vodka

word.

[Russian Texan]

Слышь, ты пидар, а ты не в Америке случайно?

I live in NJ, come by, you'll be my bitch.

Apologize or PM me your contact information.

[Sergei]

Слышь, ты пидар, а ты не в Америке случайно?

I live in NJ, come by, you'll be my bitch.

Apologize or PM me your contact information.

The bitch from NJ will never do that, he was a coward to serve, I bet he has already pissed his pants and went to his momma to ask for help from badass russkies. :D

And this bitch used to live here :bash: , good riddance!

[Sergei]

I like the topic of this thread, especially since the person who started it, never served in the Soviet Army, don't be ridiculous the bitch from NJ, just shut your cockholster and ask the moderator to lock this pointless thread.

P.S.

Ты пургу про армию не мели. Тебя там не было и твое гавно там никто не убирал, лучше уйди по тихому, без вони или открывай темы не связанные с тем что ты сам не пережил и не знаешь. Тюрьма говоришь? А ты что и в тюрьме успел посидеть, зек злоебучий? Не гони на нашу армию, она кого хочешь могла отпиздить и делала это регулярно, а пиндосных падонков типа тебя слушать тошно. ДМБ-92

[ArtofPain]

Exuse me writing in Russian.
Парни, да не реагируйте на такие разводки! Ну что вы как дети малые, Интернет-задротов не видели что ли? Кто то собирается метнутся в NJ и искать гандона на помойках? Что дел нет?
P.S. Зато я узнал кто где живёт! :P И на Аризонщине с Техасщиной есть наши парни!

[Abbyy]

Exuse me writing in Russian.
Ïàðíè, äà íå ðåàãèðóéòå íà òàêèå ðàçâîäêè! Íó ÷òî âû êàê äåòè ìàëûå, Èíòåðíåò-çàäðîòîâ íå âèäåëè ÷òî ëè? Êòî òî ñîáèðàåòñÿ ìåòíóòñÿ â NJ è èñêàòü ãàíäîíà íà ïîìîéêàõ? ×òî äåë íåò?
P.S. Çàòî ÿ óçíàë êòî ãäå æèâ¸ò! :P È íà Àðèçîíùèíå ñ Òåõàñùèíîé åñòü íàøè ïàðíè!

Ó íèõ ðåôëåêñèÿ ïî Ðîäèíå :)