Alternative civil service: what is it and how to get there

What is alternative civil service

Alternative Civil Service (ACS) is Job “in the interests of society and the state,” which is performed in exchange for conscript military service.

A citizen has the right to AGS in two cases:

1. If military service contradicts his beliefs or religion.
2. If he belongs to the indigenous people of the Russian Federation, he leads a traditional way of life for this people.

If everything is clear with the second point, then the first allows for a broad interpretation. In fact, any pacifist views are enough if you can justify why you don’t want to take up arms.

An alternative service will take more timethan urgent: 21 months instead of 12 - or 18, if we are talking about the structures of the Armed Forces. But all this time the person will work in a civilian job with salary, vacation and other rights guaranteed by the Labor Code.

The place of work will be determined by the military registration and enlistment office. Exists list of professions

, which are suitable for alternativeists. It has 149 positions - from bartender to legal adviser. The list of organizations that accept such people is also in this order.

If a man has education or work experience, he may be sent to work in his specialty - for example, as a doctor, engineer or choir performer. But only if there are corresponding vacancies. Otherwise, the conscript will work in positions where special skills are not needed or are easy to obtain. He can become an orderly, a janitor, a painter, and so on.

As stated in lawAs a rule, citizens perform alternative service outside the region where they live. In practice, it's more likely the opposite. If a person is expelled from his city, he will need to be provided for housing, pay his way. If it remains in its usual place, then you can save money on it.

How to get an appointment to the alternative civil service

There are several steps that must be followed sequentially.

Apply for alternative civil service

It is written in free form. It needs to justify why you do not want to do military service. The question should be approached in good faith: carefully describe why you and the army are incompatible. In itself, “a citizen’s negative idea of ​​​​military service and his reluctance in connection with this to undergo military service” not enough. The arguments need to be deeper. For example, you believe that all conflicts should be resolved peacefully, and killing and even teaching it is unacceptable and hurts you. But avoid language that could be interpreted as discredit The RF Armed Forces - after all, the goal is to get into the ACS, and not under investigation.

You can also indicate a list of people who will confirm your beliefs. The document must be accompanied by an autobiography and a reference from the place of work or study. If something in them reflects your pacifist ideas, that's good. If you have any other documents confirming your incompatibility with the army, please attach them too.

The application can be submitted in person. In this case, you will be given confirmation of receipt of your paper. The package of documents can also be sent by mail or via confidant. And to ensure that it is not ignored, it is worth duplicating everything and sending it, for example, to the chairmen of the draft commissions of the city and region, to the higher military registration and enlistment office, and so on.

As a general rule, an application for AGS is submitted to the military registration and enlistment office no later than six months until the next call. That is, if agenda should come in the fall draft, then you need to send the papers no later than April 1. If in spring - no later than October 1. But this does not mean that missing deadlines deprives you of the right to AGS, which guaranteed by the Constitution. Especially if it happened for a good reason. For example, you were abroad or have not yet fully formed your anti-militarist beliefs.

Wait until the draft board reviews your application

You will be called to a meeting of the draft commission, because it is obliged to consider the document in your presence. The meeting itself must take place within a month from the date of filing the application.

The commission will review the papers, listen to the applicant for the AGS and people who can confirm his beliefs. As a result, the body issues a conclusion on replacing military conscription service with an alternative civilian one or a decision on refusal. Moreover, there are only five reasons for the latter:

1. The deadline or procedure for submitting an application has been violated.
2. Documents and other data do not confirm that beliefs citizens are not allowed to serve in the army.
3. The papers contain false information.
4. The citizen had already been summoned twice to meetings of the draft commission, but he did not come to them without a good reason.
5. Previously, the person was given the right to undergo the AGS, but he evaded.

Important: before the commission meeting on your application, you should not particularly interact with the military registration and enlistment office. There is a non-zero risk that during this pause they will take you through the entire procedure of conscription for regular military service and try to send you specifically to it. Therefore, first the meeting, then everything else.

Pass a medical examination

A summons must be issued for him at a meeting of the draft commission. Even those applying for alternative civilian service will have to undergo examination. However, if doctors will reveal some diseases that would give the status “unfit” can be avoided from service altogether.

At the same time, it is important not to ignore further procedures of the military registration and enlistment office. Otherwise it's may be interpreted as “loss of interest in AGS.” And the decision to be sent there may be canceled.

Receive an order to go to the place of passing the AGS

Now the military registration and enlistment office must find a place for alternative civilian service. When this happens, you need to come and get a receipt for an order to go there. And then report to the required organization within the specified time frame.

What to do if the commission denies the right to AGS

Within three days you should be given a copy of the draft board's decision. The next step is to go to court. This will make it possible not only to protect your right to AGS, but also to avoid conscription for military service, which you will have to go to in case of refusal. Because then the call is for you will pause until the court's decision. This decision can be challenged in a higher court. As a result, there is a great chance of either getting a referral to the ACS, or leaving conscription age.

It is best to consult with a lawyer who specializes in this issue to come up with a plan of action. If you have no money, contact human rights organizations, for example, to the “Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers” or “Conscript School”*.

The basis for challenging the commission's decision in court may be, for example, a violation of the procedure. Let’s say the composition of the commission does not correspond to what was stated or the meeting was not scheduled during the conscription campaign. Finally, if members of the commission refuse to interview the conscript or his “witnesses” who confirm his beliefs, and violate the procedure for considering the application, this is also a reason to challenge their conclusions.

Is it possible to apply for AGS while mobilized?

Yes, although the military registration and enlistment offices are strongly opposed to this. Because constitutional rights apply to everyone, not just people between 18 and 27 years old. There are court decisions that confirm.

*The “Conscript School” is recognized by the Ministry of Justice as a foreign agent.