The Russian Defense Ministry is planning to place reservists on contract from 2016, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Vasily Smirnov said on Friday.
"We are drafting a new system of recruiting reservists, which will allow conscripted servicemen to sign a reservist contract after the end of their conscription term," Smirnov told reporters in Moscow.
He said contracted reservists would be assigned to specific units and could be called up to occupy certain positions as specialists whenever necessary. They will be paid for remaining in reserve.
At present, conscripted and contracted servicemen join the reserve forces after the end of their service term or service contract. They are called up periodically for short-term advanced training courses and are paid only for the time they spend in training.
The current length of military service for draftees is one year, while the shortest term of a military service contract is three years.
In line with an ongoing military reform, the Russian Armed Forces will be downsized to 1 million personnel by 2016. It will comprise 150,000 officers and about 745,000 conscripted and contracted soldiers.
MOSCOW, November 26 (RIA Novosti)
