Each year on November 15th, Russia celebrates the Russian Draftee Day. South Ural State University has a Military Training Centre which works closely with the Chelyabinsk Region Military Draft Office – the point of departure for every draftee.
The Military Training Centre is the only such centre in the region and one of 93 in the Russian Federation. At this time, the centre provides training for reserve officers, sergeants, and soldiers for the tank, missile, artillery and communications forces, as well as the Russian Armed Forces Service for Protection of State Secret.
The SUSU training centre has been cooperating with the Chelyabinsk Region Military Draft Office for many years now. The leadership of these two centres hold joint events in honour of Draftee Day. Many of our students in the military training courses participate in these events, as do veterans of the Great Patriotic War and local conflicts.
"We conduct a demonstration of weapons and military equipment. The draftees are fed porridge from the field kitchen; our students show their skills in the operation and maintenance of weapons and military equipment and in combat training. This year, due to the difficult epidemiological situation, these events will not be held," said Konstantin Krikunov, Deputy Head of the SUSU Military Training Centre.
Graduates of South Ural State University may perform contracted military service. At the same time, graduates from the Military Training Centre can volunteer for contract service, which is important for those who are considering contract service as an option for future employment. Young men who have not attended the Military Training Centre may choose two years of contract service instead of one year of draft service.
It should be noted that on Draftee Day, some cities hold festive and patriotic events; draftees can attend excursions in military facilities and museums; parents of the draftees can listen to explanations about the draft. Often, the draftees meet veterans of the Great Patriotic War and participants of counter-terrorist operations, visit the monuments of military heroes, museums, weapon exhibitions, and the locations of famous battles.