WHEN it comes to commitment to country, dedication to the uniform and professional soldiering skills, Russian and U.S. infantrymen share a similar devotion. These mutual principles enable the two countries' soldiers to work well together, despite a language barrier. But while the substance of both warriors may be similar, Russian soldiers undergo a very different evolution than their American counterparts. Rifle marksmanship, grenade throwing and military obstacle course training are often completed by the time a soldier joins his basic training squad.
Most Russian soldiers are conscripts, draftees who serve two years upon high school graduation.
Women are drafted only in time of war and are not part of the conscription program. There is no history of a volunteer army in Russia, but this may change as the country becomes less able to afford to maintain its standing force of 3 to 4 million troops. The average Russian enlisted soldier is about 19 years old, while his American counterpart is much older. The Russian army does not have a noncommissioned officer corps for a soldier to progress toward, so soldiers are less likely to pursue a career in the army and often leave after a two-year hitch. Lower-ranking officers perform the functions undertaken by American NCOs.