“We are starting a ‘big hunt’ for computer programmers,” the Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu said in a sensational remark at a recent meeting with the rectors of Russia’s leading universities.
The rectors felt relief though, as Shoigu explained that the term ‘hunt’ was meant in a good way.
Military commanders will need a great deal of software products over the next five years. The code will be written, among others, by soldiers serving in science squadrons.
According to the minister, they will have to translate sophisticated mathematical equations “into understandable and tangible volumes and numbers – both financial and informational or speed related”. In addition, the Armed Forces face a huge number of tasks that need to be accomplished on an ad-hoc basis.
“On the one hand, we need to overcome some inertia. On the other, we would like the newly established science squadrons to help raise a new generation that will develop our military science,” Shoigu said.
The Minister of Defense picked the right moment to share his ideas. Friday marked the end of a drive to recruit university students volunteering to serve in science squadrons at the Nikolay Zhukovsky – Yuri Gagarin Air Force Academy. Competition for the places was fierce, with three applicants for each spot.
Out of 90 candidates, the military picked 35 recruits whose university research can be applied to solving defence problems. Nine regional draft boards studied their personal profiles. According to Shoigu, there are no ‘well-connected guys’ in the science squadron, and there never will be.
Those who didn’t make the final cut were placed in reserve. They will be subject to callbacks when generals start forming science squadrons for the Navy and the Aerospace Defense Forces.
Shoigu told the rectors that the structures and staffing of the science squadrons had been finalised. Experienced commanders and research advisers have been assigned to the student-soldiers.
At the Air Force Academy, 30-year-old Major Viktor Merzlov – a recent PhD graduate from the Academy – has been appointed commander of the non-standard squadron. Aerospace engineers Senior Lieutenants Oleg Strashko and Aleksei Lizgun and Lieutenant Maxim Stadnikov will command the platoons.
The mission, staff schedule, and even the names of those units, are unique. Nowhere else will you find a platoon for modelling hydro-meteorological processes and phenomena of high- and medium-pressure air separation, boasting 12 students among its ranks.
The Army has no other platoon for the development and improvement of the design of aircraft, engines, avionics and radar systems (consisting of 13 servicemen), or one for radio and electronic warfare and the evaluation of the reduction of visibility and data protection in automated information systems (staffed with ten recruits).
In terms of how the students’ service will be organised, officers are not going to make the squads entirely detached from the regular Army system. The recruits will take a military oath on July 10 and go through boot camp.
They will learn how to fire a sub-machine gun and get a basic idea about combat tactics and how to act in defensive and offensive situations.
As any other regular soldiers, the students will have to carry out duties, receive physical training and take part in morning and evening roll calls. Yet the main service mission and key function of those non-regular recruits will consist of scientific research.
It will take the place of special, engineering, firing and other types of combat training in the company’s daily schedule.
These ‘scientist’ soldiers won’t have to rough it out in the barracks. Since they will have to think hard both during and outside of service hours, they will be lodged on the Academy’s premises in relative comfort – four in a room.
Each dormitory will be fitted with a computer. And instead of attending classes, the recruits will study in the Academy’s labs.
“After conducting a half-year experiment, next year we will recruit students into science squadrons simultaneously with the placement of our R&D orders”, Shoigu told university rectors.
This story from Russian daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta was first published in English in Russia Beyond The Headlines, an international source of political, business and cultural news and analysis.
