The Young Army on the Red Square, Moscow, 9 May 2019
The All-Russian Military Patriotic Social Movement "Young Army" (Всероссийское военно-патриотическое общественное движение «Юнармия», sometimes transliterated as Yunarmiya,) is a youth organization supported and funded by the Government of Russia through the Ministry of Defence of Russia (MOD)[citation needed] with a mission to train future personnel for the uniformed services. Established in October 2015, its pusposes are to instill the values of patriotism, national service, national and military history, remembrance of past military operations and campaigns and of the fallen of its armed forces, and to help develop the country as its population grows.[1][2]
This national movement was a part of a larger range of youth programs, clubs and organizations which were created in 1990. The initial movement's motto was "For the glory of the Fatherland!". Modern YAM was formally established by presidential decree issued on October 29, 2015 by President of RussiaVladimir Putin at the behest of Minister of Defense General of the Army Sergey Shoygu.[3] The Young Army Movement's aims are to improve the state policy in the field of education of the younger generation, create favorable environment for the harmonious development of the personality of children and young people, the formation of moral values and guidelines, as well as education in military and patriotic themes.
Flag of the Yunarmiya
Thus, the Young Army Cadets (Юнармеец),[4][5] as they are called, are from a wide number of youth groups and the Cadet Corps and Schools all over the country, the latter preparing youth for service within the Armed Forces. The YAM thus forms the military division of the wider Russian Youth and Students Movement, formed in 2015 under the Federal Service of Supervision of Education and Science, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. Critics have described the organization as the Russian equivalent of the Hitler Youth and a modern, republican form of the Soviet Komsomol and Young Pioneers.[6][7] In 2016 Russian minister of defense Sergei Shoigu stated that allegations over increased militarization of Russians were "far from true".[8][9]
According to Ukrainian military intelligence, in February 2022, the Russian Defence Minister ordered an assessment of the potential use of Yunarmiya members in the war in Ukraine after their conscription into the Russian Armed forces.[10]
In July 2022 the EU imposed sanctions on Young Army Cadets National Movement in relation to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[11] Members of the Wagner Group have reportedly been providing weapons training to Ukrainian children inside occupied areas of Ukraine.[12]
Uniform and traditions
Young Army Cadets are distinguished by their red berets. Young Army Movement members wear gray uniforms (used since early 2016), while their component organizations and Cadet Corps wear their own uniforms (the latter military-styled), with peaked caps (summer, ushankas during the winter in some cases) and/or sailor caps (the latter for naval cadets). Colour guard escorts occasionally sport sabres while in the full dress or service uniform on parades.
Leadership
The heads of the regional branches are selected at the rallies of the Yunarmiya. In October 2016, ex-commander of the Russian Airborne ForcesVladimir Shamanov was elected as the head of the Moscow Branch of the organization.[13] The regional headquarters of the Moscow Oblast is headed by the Olympic champion Alexander Legkov. Working under the National Headquarters are a number of famous athletes, cosmonauts and actors dedicated to assist in the work of the organization.[14] In October 2017, Yelena Slesarenko, two-time world champion in jumping, was appointed Chief of Staff at the Yunarmiya Main Staff.[15][16] Since 2018, Nikita Mikhalkov has been the senior mentor of the Yunarmiya.[17]
Chief of the Main Staff
The organization is led by a person holding the position of Chief of the Main Staff of the National Movement (Russian: Начальник Главного штаба). He or she is responsible for the overall supervision of the National Movement and its partner and affiliate organizations nationwide.
The Central Band of Young Army Cadet Movement was established in 2014. Since December 2017, the team has been actively participating in the concert activities of the Consolidated Children and Youth Brass Bands of Moscow.[20][21]
^"Making real men out of schoolchildren". meduza.io. Retrieved 2019-03-07. "There was this military training instructor there, too, and he told everyone that they'd have special classes on physical fitness and army discipline. Later, they'd all have to pass a test on 'labor and defense readiness,' he said."
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