54 conscripts did not make it into the ranks

Yesterday at the regional administration, the military commission reported on the results of the spring conscription. Military Commissar of the Irkutsk Region Vasily Sundarev assessed the activities of the region's military commissariats as satisfactory, also reporting that the spring conscription was completed 100%. At the same time, the regional military commissar noted that it was not possible to exceed the plan due to the failure of 54 people to show up at the assembly point. After reporting on the successes, Colonel Sundarev quite actively criticized the current medical system and complained that the federal authorities do not allocate money for examinations of conscripts. Kommersant correspondent KONSTANTIN PARFENENOK listened to the report from the conscription field.
The meeting of the regional military commission began with a report from the military commissar of the Irkutsk region Vasily Sundarev, who spoke in detail about how the spring conscription went. It turns out that the spring conscription campaign not only took place, but also ended ahead of schedule. In total, 24 thousand young people were summoned to military registration and enlistment offices in the region. Of these, 3,354 thousand people were recognized as fit for military service by military registration and enlistment offices. Mr. Sundarev very much regretted that 54 people did not arrive at the assembly points, and only 3,300 people went to the army from the Irkutsk region. The regional military commissar stated that because of these 54 people, the regional military registration and enlistment office was unable to exceed the plan. Instead of a possible 101% percentage, the call this spring was 100%.
Having reported on the main positions, Vasily Sundarev moved on to criticize the position of the federal center, which, in fact, is most interested in the successful work of draft commissions. Mr. Sundarev noted that for two years in a row, medical examination of conscripts has been carried out at the expense of the Irkutsk region, and not from the federal budget. The regional military commission has repeatedly appealed to higher federal authorities, but has never received federal money. After this, the military commissar noted that “the current state of medicine, just like the health of modern youth, needs improvement.” The head of the regional governor’s administration, Alexander Veledeev, who was present at the meeting, asked to clarify what these improvements were. Vasily Sundarev explained that he was referring to the problem of poor quality of health among conscripts. “Current conscripts smoke a lot,” the military commissar emphasized. In his opinion, smoking, as well as a sedentary lifestyle, have a detrimental effect on the health of conscripts. “Currently, the sports discipline program in primary educational institutions is not working very well,” said Mr. Sundarev.
Mr. Veledeev asked Irina Popova, a representative of the health committee, to explain the situation with the health of adolescents. She confirmed the words of Mr. Sundarev regarding the poor health of the conscripts. She also emphasized that with the current healthcare system and medical examination of children “from zero to 18 years old,” the health of conscripts could be much worse. In her opinion, it is necessary to invest money in the current healthcare system. Those present agreed with the opinion of the representative of the health committee and, after listening to several more reports, left satisfied with the results of the call. As for the medical examination, according to Kommersant's information, it will continue to be financed from the regional budget.

Kommersant (Irkutsk) No. 127 dated July 15, 2004

The regional military registration and enlistment office underfulfilled the plan