New bills have been signed into law in Russia and as a foreigner in Russia, you must stay on top of these updates as they will affect you one way or the other. We had a conversation about the new conscription laws with the Russian passport on the Telegram channel recently.
Now, here’s what you need to know about the Военный Билет
What is the military ID?
This is a document that is issued to a person before serving in the Russian Armed Forces and other departments where military service is provided, for example, in the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Russian National Guard. During conscription service, a military ID replaces a passport. It is obtained in different ways – at the place of service after conscription, at the military registration and enlistment office, or upon admission to a military university.
Types of military IDs
There are two types. The first is a regular military ID. It is issued to all citizens of Russia who are registered for military service.
The second is a military ID of an officer in the armed forces reserve.
Despite similar names, they have different issuance procedures and functions. An officer’s military ID is issued only to officers discharged from military service, in exchange for a serviceman’s identity card.
It is also issued to those who have successfully completed training at a military training center of a university upon enrollment in the reserve. An ordinary conscript will not receive such a card.
Recently, military ID cards are gradually being replaced by personal electronic cards of military personnel, which, like military ID cards, are a document of military registration of citizens. Outwardly, they look like a bank card, and they contain a photograph of the owner.
The personal electronic card can be used to record information necessary for military registration in electronic form: for example, passport data, information about education, assignment of a sports category or sports title.
The validity period of the electronic card is 10 years, after which it must be replaced. It is planned that over time, such cards will replace traditional paper military ID cards.
What is it for?
There is an opinion that only those who have served in the army receive a military ID. But this is not true.
A military ID is issued to a person immediately before conscription, and is issued at the time of conscription for military service. But even those who have not served in the army can receive a military ID. This happens if a person, for example, was not conscripted at all or had deferments. Those who did not intentionally evade conscription will in any case receive a military ID, but after they turn 27 years old. To do this, you must be registered for military service. All citizens are required to do this, except for those who:
* Are exempt from military service.
* Are already serving in the military.
* Are serving a sentence in the form of imprisonment.
* Permanently reside outside Russia.
The first pages contain basic information about the owner: his last name, first name and patronymic, date and place of birth, education and marital status. It also indicates his main civilian specialty and sports categories, if any.
This information is filled out during registration, and over time it becomes irrelevant – usually no changes are made to it. Entries on the remaining pages appear later.
Pages 2-3 — information about whether the person was called up for military, alternative, or contract service. There is the same information about dismissal from service and registration for military service.
If a person has a military ID, but these two pages are blank, then, most likely, he did not get into the unit where he was supposed to serve. Or this is a reason to doubt the authenticity of the ID — it depends on the situation.
Page 4 — continuation of information about discharge from military service. It happens: a person is discharged, then re-enlists. This is possible.
Page 5 — information about military and alternative service.
Let’s say the ticket says that the owner in 1998-1999 did not do alternative, but military service by conscription, but served for a year. At that time, this was only possible for a person with a higher education. Or if he completed his conscription service early — for example, due to health reasons, in connection with being elected as a deputy. In other cases, he would have had to serve for two years at that time.
Pages 6-7 — information about participation in battles, military campaigns and service during wartime.
Sometimes, some people like to embellish the past with stories about participation in battles. But personnel department employees will see whether this is true or not. If there is no entry in the military ID, the person was not in combat.
Page 8 — information about taking the military oath and assigning military ranks.
The military oath is not just words and a ritual. When a person has sworn allegiance to Russia, he can be called up for military actions, put on guard duty, issued weapons, and assigned military equipment.
Information about the assigned military ranks is also important. If the ticket holder enters service in a law enforcement agency, for example, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Penitentiary Service, or the Russian National Guard, the length of service in military ranks will be counted when assigning the next rank in these agencies.
Let’s say a person did his military service in the army and received the rank of sergeant. If he joins the police, the special rank he will be awarded cannot be lower than the military rank, that is, he will not become a private in the police, but will be at least a sergeant. For this, an entry in the military ID is sufficient. Page 9 – information about state awards received during military service, and about wounds and concussions. There is no place for this information in the medical record of the district clinic, but doctors will find out about it from the military ID.
Page 10 — information about the weapons and property assigned to a person during military service. For example, they can indicate a machine gun and a gas mask.
Page 11 — for the number of the military registration specialty that a person received in the army. And it does not matter that in civilian life he now works as a mechanic or a top manager. If he is called up for service again, he can be, for example, a radar operator or a radio operator.
In peacetime, this information is important for personnel department employees — they are required to report to the military registration and enlistment office information about employees who are registered for military service. And information about military registration is also entered into the employee’s personal card if the employer continues to maintain it.
Page 12 contains information about military training. Not everyone is called up for them, no more often than once every three years and for a maximum of two months.
Pages 13-15 may contain records of medical re-examinations, if this is necessary for health reasons. If there are no records, it means that the military registration and enlistment office has no questions about the person’s health. But if he was sent for a medical examination, this is a reason to pay attention to the person’s health. If he is applying, for example, for a pilot’s position, records of illnesses may serve as a basis for paying more attention to his health.
Pages 16, 17 and 18 contain information about the issuance of mobilization orders. They can be in the hands of reserve military personnel assigned to specific military units. For example, a reserve officer can be assigned to a specific airborne division.
Those who have already been discharged from the military are also called up for military training
Pages 21–25 contain space for notes on military registration and deregistration, which are made at the military registration and enlistment office. Registering for military service is a citizen’s responsibility. For example, after moving, you must register for military service within two weeks at the latest, otherwise you may be fined 1,000–5,000 ₽.
Page 26 contains information on exemption from military service and the reason for exemption. In some cases, the reason for exemption may create difficulties not only in finding a job, but also in obtaining, for example, a driver’s license and a weapons permit. Especially if a person is exempt from service due to mental illness.
These pages are marked every time the place of registration changes. The military registration and enlistment office must know where the person liable for military service lives
All these marks can only be read on a paper military ID. On the electronic card, you will only see the owner’s photograph, QR code, last name, first name, patronymic, date of birth and personal number – if there is one. On the back of the card is the full name of the military registration and enlistment office that issued it and the date until which it is valid. All other information is available electronically. Anyone who wants to read them will not be able to do anything about them, nor will they be able to make corrections to them.
For work. When applying for a job, those liable for military service are asked for a military ID or documents replacing it. However, commercial employers do not care whether the candidate served in the army. Even if you have not served or have not shown your military ID, you cannot be refused employment or fired.
But any employer is required to transfer information about employees liable for military service to the military registration and enlistment office. Otherwise, you will be fined from 40,000 to 50,000 ₽
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For service in government and law enforcement agencies. If a person has not served in the army without legal grounds, he cannot be in the state civil service. But not for life, but for ten years from the day when the draft board recognized that he had evaded military service, and the period for appealing this decision expired
With law enforcement agencies, everything is a little more complicated. For example, among the documents that a candidate must submit for admission to the Department of Internal Affairs, there are military registration documents – a military ID or a registration certificate. Without them, they will not accept you into service
It turns out that even if a person has not served in the army by conscription, he can theoretically be accepted into service in the police or the Russian National Guard. This is possible, for example, when a person was studying in graduate school, and therefore was not drafted into the army. He will receive a military ID. But without any military registration documents at all – no way.
When applying for a foreign passport
When applying for a foreign passport, a military ID is presented by men aged 18 to 27 who live in Russia.
If it contains information that the man has completed military service, then there will be no questions and the foreign passport will be issued.
But if there is no such entry in the military ID or there is no military ID itself, questions will arise. The person wishing to travel abroad will not have to answer them. The employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who are responsible for foreign passports will themselves ask the military commissariat for the reason. If a person has a valid one — for example, he is a student or graduate student — there will be no problems with issuing a passport.
If it turns out that a person was called up for military service or sent to alternative civilian service, but he has not yet served, he will not see a passport.
When receiving a loan from a bank
A mandatory document for a loan is a passport. It cannot be replaced with a military ID. But banks often require a second document that additionally confirms a person’s identity. This can be a driver’s license or a military ID.
Often, a military ID with a mark on military service or exemption from it increases the chances of loan approval. A military ID is also important when applying for long-term loans, such as a mortgage. If there is no military ID, the bank may assume that the owner may be called up for service, so it will stop paying. Therefore, those who have not served are often denied long-term loans or have their interest rates increased to reduce risks.
Conditions for obtaining
There are only two:
* Be a man from 18 to 27 years old or a woman with a military registration specialty.
* Contact the military registration and enlistment office at your place of residence to register for military service or to perform military service by conscription.
Is it possible to obtain it in another city?
All citizens liable for military service can register for military service at their place of residence, even if they do not have a registration. If there is no military ID when registering, it must be issued at the military registration and enlistment office at the place of application. The presence or absence of a residence permit in this case does not matter.
Where to obtain
A military ID can legally be obtained only at the military registration and enlistment office. To do this, you will have to pass a medical examination. It is impossible to obtain it remotely, through intermediaries, or by proxy. Those who permanently reside abroad also cannot obtain a military ID: embassies and consulates do not deal with this.
If a person does not want to serve for some reason, or believes that he has the right to a deferment or exemption, this does not change anything. You still need to contact the military registration and enlistment office and prove there the right to a deferment and exemption.
Documents for obtaining a military ID
Military ID forms and electronic cards are strictly accountable documents. They are stored in sealed storage facilities to prevent unauthorized access and theft. Military district headquarters and military commissariats are responsible for storing these documents.
You cannot obtain a military ID at the MFC or through the public services portal. You must go to the military commissariat and submit an application with a full package of documents – a passport, a copy of education documents, marital status, a driver’s license, if any. If there are documents on the right to a deferment – for example, a certificate that a person is studying at a university or in graduate school, they must be provided.
Registration times
The period for issuing military IDs and electronic cards is not specified in any current document. Obtaining a military ID in case of illness
Even if a person has an illness that prevents service, he will receive a military ID. Here’s what you need to do.
Go through a medical examination at the military registration and enlistment office. It does not make diagnoses. Its task is to study documents about existing illnesses. But if a conscript is found to have an illness that prevents him from serving, he will be exempted from
Registration deadlines
The deadline for issuing military IDs and electronic cards is not specified in any current document.
Obtaining a military ID in case of illness
Even if a person has an illness that prevents service, he will receive a military ID. Here’s what you need to do.
Undergo a medical examination at the military registration and enlistment office. It does not make diagnoses. Its task is to study documents about existing illnesses. But if the conscript is found to have an illness that prevents service, he will be exempted from conscription.
Diseases that provide an exemption from service. The list is in the schedule of illnesses. But the final decision remains with the draft board.
Meeting of the draft board- there they will study the conscript’s documents again and assign a fitness category:
* A – fit for military service.
* B – fit for military service with minor restrictions.
* B — limited fitness for military service.
* G — temporarily unfit for military service.
* D — unfit for military service.
Obtaining a military ID in certain situations
Sometimes women also need to get a military ID. There is a list of military registration specialties and professions. If a girl has such a profession, she will be registered for military service and issued a military ID in the same manner as men. For example, if the occupation is related to medicine, cartography, communications, computer technology.
Military registration specialties and professions for which women are registered for military service. In any case, women will not be called up for military service – this is their right, not their obligation.
If you change your full name, your military ID is subject to replacement. To do this, you need to contact the military office, present your passport, old military ID and documents confirming the change in passport data, for example, a marriage certificate. You will not have to pay a state fee.
Upon release from prison
According to the law, citizens with an unexpunged conviction for a crime are not subject to conscription for military service.
If a person has an outstanding conviction or is serving a sentence in a penal colony, he will not be called up for military service and is not required to register for military service. However, after his release, he must contact the military commissariat and register for military service. If the person has turned 27 by this date, he will not be called up for military service. If not, he may be called up.
Alternative service
This is regular work instead of military service. Substitution is possible if military service is contrary to the beliefs or religion of the person, or the conscript is a representative of small indigenous peoples who lead a traditional way of life and economy.
A person undergoing alternative service is issued a certificate of this. When he has served, the certificate is replaced with a military ID. It will contain an entry about alternative service.
For students in military educational institutions
Graduates of military educational institutions are awarded the military rank of lieutenant. They will receive a reserve officer’s military ID only after they are discharged from the reserve.
Can a draft dodger receive a military ID after the age of 27? If a conscript has turned 27, he can safely come to the military registration and enlistment office – conscription for military service is no longer a threat. But he will have to write an explanatory note.
But whether they will issue a military ID depends on whether there were legal grounds for exemption from service.
Let’s say a person hid from the military registration and enlistment office in the taiga so that he would not be drafted into the army. At 27, he can safely go and surrender: he will not be drafted for military service.
But instead of a military ID, he will receive a certificate of the established form. Such a certificate does not impose any restrictions on the owner – with the exception that he cannot become a civil servant.
The military registration and enlistment office will definitely ask for a written explanation of why this happened. If a person was not hiding, but, for example, was studying, or the military registration and enlistment office forgot to send a summons, they will issue a military ID, but without a record of military service.
Is it worth buying a military ID?
There are many offers on the Internet about this. The options are different. A fake printed on a color printer is offered for 30,000 ₽, for issuing a military ID through unscrupulous employees of the military registration and enlistment office they ask from 150,000 to 300,000 ₽. But we discourage you from doing this.
Risks and responsibility
Any experienced HR employee can detect a fake military ID. For example, if the dates and entries are made by the same hand, this is suspicious. And also suspicion will be aroused by discrepancies in the dates of entries, seals and many other things. A military ID issued after 27 years does not count: it is issued by one person.
It is not difficult to finally detect a fake – you need to send a request to the military registration and enlistment office. If confirmed, the owner of the fake risks losing his job at the very least, and sometimes being forced to serve in the army. He may also be charged with a criminal offense and imprisoned for up to a year or sentenced to forced labor for the same period.
How to restore a lost military ID
If you lose your military ID, you must contact your local military registration and enlistment office within two weeks with a free-form application.
. Collection of documents. Attach the following to your application:
* A copy of your Russian passport.
* Two matte photographs 3 x 4 cm, without corners.
* If your military ID was stolen, a police certificate stating that a criminal case has been opened for theft or that a criminal case has been refused.
* A medical examination in the event of exemption from service.
You do not need to pay a state fee for restoring a military ID.
Responsibility for loss
For intentional loss or damage to a military ID, you can be fined from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles. And if it was stolen, there is no fine.
Remember
* A military ID is a small personal file of a conscript.
* Even someone who has not served in the army can get it, and legally.
* When applying for a job, you will have to present your military ID or a document replacing it to your employer, but this is only important for government service.
* Buying a military ID is not the best idea.
Source: https://journal.tinkoff.ru/guide/war-ticket/?ysclid=m06egcvand900425019
