RUSSIAN MILITARY MANNED BY LACK-ALLS
RIA Novosti
MOSCOW, Mar. 2 (RIA Novosti) - At present, the Russian armed forces mirrors the most destitute part of the people, Navy Captain 1st Rank Leonid Peven, chief of the Defense Ministry's Sociologic Center, told the media on Wednesday.
"About 80% of conscripts are former residents of villages and small towns," the officer said. Mostly children of workers and peasants are in the ranks.
Speaking of the officer corps, Mr. Peven noted that commissioned officers mostly come from the families of servicemen and low-income intelligentsia (doctors, engineers, teachers, etc.).
"Entering a military academy is the only way for them to get a college diploma for free," Mr. Peven emphasized.
He said 34% of commissioned and warrant officers and their dependents are below the poverty line.
"This is due to the officers' wives being jobless on remote bases, with their men being the only breadwinners," Mr. Peven commented.
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