Dedovshchina

Dedovshchina or Diedovshina (Russian: дедовщина, transcribed: Diedovshchina, where the "ie" is pronounced like the "ye" in "yet") is the name given to the informal system of subjection of new junior conscripts, formerly to the Soviet Armed Forces and today to the Russian armed forces, Interior Ministry, and (to a much lesser extent) FSB border guards, as well as, possibly, military forces of certain former Soviet Republics, to brutalization by the conscripts serving their last year of compulsory military service as well as NCOs and officers. Dedovshchina is the Soviet and Russian variety of the US, Canadian, etc. hazing tradition involving harsh, unofficial initiation of a person into a military organization.

Dedovshchina involves a spectrum of subordinating or humiliating activities performed by the junior ranks: from carrying out chores of the senior ranks to violent and sometimes lethal physical and psychological abuse, being not unlike an extremely vicious form of bullying or even torture. It is often cited as a major source of poor morale in the ranks.

Often with the justification of maintaining authority, physical violence or psychological abuse can be applied to make “youth” to do certain fatigue duties. In many situations, hazing is in fact not the goal. Conscripts with "seniority" exploit their juniors to provide themselves with a more comfortable existence, and the violent aspects arise when juniors refuse to "follow traditions". There have been occasions where soldiers have been seriously injured. In extraordinary situations, there is a lethal outcome.

In fact, the Soviet military had an unusually high death rate in times of peace, due in part to such practices, sometimes combined with poor nutrition, harsh living conditions, etc.

Etymology

The term is derived from "ded" (Russian: дед, meaning grandfather; the "e" is actually pronounced "ye", as in "yet"), which is the Russian Army army slang equivalent of gramps, meaning soldiers at their third (or fourth, which is also known as "dembel" (Russian: дембель), stemming from a vulgarization of the word "demobilizаtion" (Russian: демобилизация) - this word is erroneously used by soldiers to name the event of resigning from the army, this event also may be called "dembel" or "DMB" (Russian: ДМБ)) half-year of conscription, with the suffix -shchina which designates a type of order, rule, or regime (compare Yezhovshchina, Zhdanovshchina). Thus it can literally be translated as "rule of the grandfathers." This is essentially a folk system of seniority based on stage of service, mostly not backed by code or law, which only grants seniority to conscripts promoted to various Sergeant and Efreitor ranks.

History

This started as a modern parallel to the worst historical forms of fagging in British schools, even with an organized hierarchy, but in this case, the very professional hierarchy actively joins in making it utter abuse, causing many recruits to avoid service out of fear for their health or even their lives.

The origin of this problem is often attributed to the change in conscription term brought about by the law of October 12, 1967, causing two different groups of conscripts to be simultaneously present in the army: those who were drafted for 3-year service and those only for 2-year service. While oppression by older conscripts has probably always taken place in the army, after that date, with the introduction of the four-class system it became organized and developed its own rules and ranks.

In 2007 the Russian government lowered military service time to 1.5 years and completed the reform by lowering it to 1 year of compulsory military service in 2008. The expectation is that this action will positively affect the situation with Dedovshchina.

Current situation

Many young men are killed or commit suicide every year because of dedovshchina.^[1]^[2] The New York Times reported that in 2006 at least 292 Russian soldiers were killed by dedovshchina (although the Russian military only admits that 16 soldiers were directly murdered by acts of dedovshchina and claims that the rest committed suicide). The Times states: "On Aug. 4, it was announced by the chief military prosecutor that there had been 3,500 reports of abuse already this year (2006), compared with 2,798 in 2005". The BBC meanwhile reports that in 2007, 341 soldiers committed suicide, a 15% reduction on the previous year.^[3]

Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia works to protect the rights of young soldiers.

Government actions

Overall, the state has done little to curtail Dedovshchina. In 2003, on the specific issues of denial of food and poor nutrition, Deputy Minister of Defense V. Isakov flatly denied the existence of such problems.^[4]

Since 2005, the Ministry of Defense has published monthly statistics of incidents and crimes including cases of death.^[5]

In 2007, the Russian government lowered the term of conscripts' military service from 24 months to 18, in an attempt to solve the morale problem. Again, in 2008, the government lowered the term from 18 months to 12, in an attempt to eliminate the problem.

Hierarchic levels

Meaning of terms can vary depending of the military branch or certain troop command, and also their tour spans.

General meanings of military slang for soldiers with certain operating experience:

«Запахи» (Smells), «Дрыщи» (Fartknockers), «Духи бесплотные» (Bodiless Souls) — soldiers under isolation period before loyalty oath.
«Духи» (Souls), «Салаги» (Fresh meat), «Бобры» (Beavers), «Салабоны» (Dudes), «Васьки» (Vaski), «Отцы» (Fathers), «Малыши» (Babies), «Ежи» (Urchins), «Воробьи (ВВ)» (Sparrows), «Чеки (ВВ)» (Cheks), «Чекисты (ВВ)» (Chekists), «Щеглы» (Fool’s coats), «ЧИЖ, Человек исполняющий желания» (Siskin, ru:CHIJ, abbr. from chelovek ispolnyaiuschi jelaniya, person who fulfils wishes or fantasies) — soldiers having done military service for less than half a year.
«Слоны (ВДВ и ВВ)» (Elephants), «Помоза» (Helper), «Шнурки» (Shoelaces), «Вороны (ВВ)» (Ravens), «Караси (Crucian, navy)», «Молодой» (Young), «Моржи» (Walruses) — soldiers having done military service for half a year.
«Черепа» (Sculls), «Черпак (аббревиатура Человек Еженонощно Разрушающий Покой Армейской Казармы)» (Cherpack, abbr. from chelovek, ejenoschno razrushaiuschi pokoi armeiskoi kazarmy, man every night ruining peace of billet), «Борзые караси (ВМС)» (Swift Crucian, navy), «Фазаны» (Pheasants), «Котлы» (Boilers), «Помазки» (Swabs) — soldiers having completed a year of military service.
«Деды» (Grandfathers) — soldiers having completed a year and a half of military service. Apparently, this term is derived from the term “Ded”, “Grandfather”.
«Дембеля» (Dembels), «Граждане (ВВ)» (citizens) (generally considered civilians): soldiers after their "order of retirement" or release is issued.

In the Navy (at least before 1990), there were exactly 7 hierarchic levels:

Less than half a year - «Дух» (Soul) (Bodiless creation without gender, understands nothing, knows nothing, able to do nothing but dirty jobs, often helpless);
Half a year - «Карась» (crucian) (not newbie, knows what real service is, knows his duties, navy traditions and practices well, but is often kicked because of souls’ sluggishness);
One year - «Борзый карась» (swift crucian) (This is old dodger. Knows his duties tightly. Responsible for making “crucians” and “souls” to do their work well. Never kicked, except in extraordinary situations.)
One year six months - "ПолторАшник" (PoltorAshnick, from Russian “полтора”, PoltorA (one and half) First level of unkickables. Undergoes only moral pressing from old-timers due to oversights for inferiors) PoltorAshnick is the ugliest and most ruthless creature. On this level people with poor moral principles reveal themselves.
2 years – “PodgodOck” (Last “o” stressed – from Russian «год», «god» (year)) – means «one year rest». Most liberal level. Being tired of previous 0.5-year moral stress and taking in attention no duties, sailors have only rest.
2 years 6 months - «ГодОк», «godock» (This is why in the navy, the term «годковщИна», “godkovshchi’na” is used instead of dedovshcina) Supreme wheeling caste composed of old-timers. Never kicks minors, except in extraordinary situations, this being done by “poltorashniks”. On the other hand, unofficial pressing of sailors by commanding officers emerges with the «godocks».
3 years - "Profsoyus" (Guilder) This “rank” is awarded after publication of the retirement order by Ministry of Defence. Precisely after this publication, the “Godock” is unceremoniously listed as discharged and runs out of allowance, but because of certain situations, must stay on in the division, supposedly being supported by the Navy Guild. Lives in the division or ship as a civilian dressed in military uniform.

References

^ The Consequences of Dedovshchina, Human Rights Watch report, 2004
^ Ismailov, Vjacheslav (2006-07-10). "Terrible dedovshchina in General Staff". Novaya Gazeta (in Russian). Retrieved 2009-01-24.
^ "Russia army suicides cause alarm". BBC News Online. 29 May 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2009-01-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ To Serve without Health?
^ http://www.mil.ru/849/1048/1312/index.shtml Информация о происшествиях и преступлениях в Вооруженных Силах РФ