A military commissariat (Russian: Bоенный коммисариат, translit: voyenny kommisariat) was a local military administrative agency used in the Soviet Union to provide administrative and organisational military services. They were led by a military commissar (Russian: Bоенный коммисар, translit: voyenny kommisar) who worked in a political and bureaucratic role alongside a regional military commander who served as a traditional military official. As is typical of Soviet phraseology, military commissariats can be referred to in Russian as 'voyenkomat' and military commissars can be referred to as 'voyenkom'; examples of Soviet portmanteaus. Military commissariats were used in the Soviet Union from 1917 until its dissolution in 1991. They were introduced after its formation when existing Russian territories were split into different republics. These republics were subsequently divided into Krais and Oblasts and then into national districts and at each division a military commissariat was instated. The role of the military commissariat at each stage of hierarchy differed; however, its core functions centred around administrative housekeeping regarding military personnel and military equipment and the provision of military training. Other duties included troop mobilisation, preparing local men for service, registering all relevant weaponry including all machinery and cars in the region, delivering Pensions to retired army personnel, and selecting and promoting officers.