A future soldier going to serve under a contract or called up for military service in the ranks of the Russian Army must undergo a military medical examination, during which his suitability or unsuitability for military service will be determined. According to the results of the medical examination, the conscript will be assigned a certain fitness category, of which there are only five. If, after a medical examination, a young man is assigned fitness category “A”, then he is guaranteed to go to repay his military duty to his homeland. The only question is which troops?
What does fitness category “A” mean?
When a young man comes to a medical institution to undergo a military medical examination, he comes to the attention of doctors of various specialties. If the conscript has any documents confirming the presence of the disease, he must provide them to the commission, along with certificates from, for example, a drug dispensary, a dermatovenerological dispensary, etc.
During the medical examination, all conscript diagnoses are carefully checked against a special list called the “Schedule of Diseases,” which contains a list of all diseases that limit or exempt from military service.
“Schedule of illnesses” is a document on the basis of which a future military personnel is assigned a fitness category. If the council made a decision to assign the recruit category “A”, it means that he will serve, due to the absence of a non-conscription illness. In addition, this category is also assigned to those who have a non-conscription disease, but it is still in the initial stages, therefore, cannot become an obstacle to military service, since there are no functional impairments or disorders yet.
How is fitness category “A” assigned?
There is such a term as “diagnostic minimum,” which means that every conscript who appears for a medical examination must undergo an ECG, fluorography, and also undergo tests. In addition, an examination by doctors of seven specialties is required (ophthalmologist, surgeon, therapist, ENT doctor, neurologist, dentist and psychiatrist).
The designation indicator (DI) is an important criterion, which has a numerical designation: 1, 2, 3, 4. This means that category “A” has several subcategories that determine the degree of suitability of a young man to serve in certain troops.
Suitability category "A1"
This subcategory is considered the highest of all four, having the highest mission indicator, allowing a young man to serve in elite troops, for example, border troops, special forces or air assault. Special forces, airborne forces, and marines are also included in this list. To get into the elite units, you must have suitable physical characteristics.
For example, service in the Airborne Forces implies the absence of excess weight. Of course, lack of it can also become a serious obstacle to becoming a paratrooper. There are also restrictions on height: the future fighter of the “winged infantry” cannot have a height below 175 and above 190 cm.
- No underweight or grade 2 obesity.
- Excellent hearing (whispered speech should be recognized from a distance of 6 m).
- Height is within 185 cm, and for future submarine sailors - no more than 182 cm.
- Absence of dichromasia and limitation of the visual field (the excess should not be more than 20 degrees).
Suitability category "A2"
If a conscript was assigned subcategory “A2” based on the results of a medical examination, it means that there were unpleasant moments in his life. For example, fractures of the upper or lower extremities, a serious illness that was successfully healed, or if at the time of the visit to the doctors he had residual effects of any ailments. To become a sailor and serve on submarines and ships, you must:
- Have a height of up to 182 cm.
- Do not be class 2 obese or underweight.
- Have excellent hearing (6/6).
- If there is a limitation of the visual field, this indicator should be no more than 20 degrees.
- Lack of dichromasy.
Young people who are subject to conscription into tank forces (drivers, crew members) of tanks, armored vehicles and other army vehicles are subject to similar requirements, with the exception of some points. Thus, the height of a tanker cannot be more than 175 cm, and such an indicator as the audibility of whispered speech for crew members should be 3/3 or 1/4, and for drivers - 6/6 m.
Suitability category "A3"
When, by decision of the members of the medical commission, a conscript is awarded category “A3”, it means that he has some eye diseases. For example, a young man with slight myopia - within two diopters - may fall into this category. If correction is not required, then the young man can be drafted into the internal troops, guard and chemical units, armored forces, missile forces and artillery. Suitability indicators are:
- Absence of 2nd degree obesity and underweight.
- Height is within 180 cm.
- The audibility of whispered speech is 5/5 or 6/6 m.
- Lack of dichromasy.
- Restriction of the visual field, completely absent or not exceeding 20 degrees.
Suitability category "A4"
When assigning this subcategory, you need to be prepared for the fact that a young man can be sent to serve in any branch of the military, with the exception of all those listed above. Suitability indicators are the same as for category A3. But what is the difference then? Category A4 includes conscripts who have either minor problems with vision or with their legs, namely with their feet. That is, if a conscript has first-degree flatfoot, he automatically falls into this category.
What you need to know
When passing a military medical examination, each specialist participating in this process makes his own conclusion. Consequently, each doctor has the right to determine not only the category of suitability, but also the indicator of purpose. But how then is the general category of suitability determined? According to the lowest PP. That is, if a neurologist puts category “A1”, a therapist “A2”, and an ophthalmologist - “A3”, then the military ID will indicate that the future soldier has been awarded category “A3”. It is noteworthy that the PP and the category itself are advisory in nature, and the further fate of the young man is determined by the recruiting station.
Is it possible to switch from one fitness category to another?
It happens that a conscript does not agree with the opinion of doctors, and the law allows him to challenge the decision of the military medical commission. Sometimes a subcategory or even a category is overestimated, especially when there is a shortage or the military registration and enlistment office “has a plan.” But if a young man has a laudable desire to serve in the elite forces, and the subcategory assigned to him does not allow this, then what? He can change it.
The main thing is that your health condition allows you to do this. The initial registration, which also involves passing a medical examination to determine the category, is not so scary. After all, before conscription, the young man will have to undergo a medical examination again, and during this period he can improve his health in order to have a chance to fall into a higher category.
One must express one’s disagreement with the doctors’ verdict not in the office of a medical institution or in the military registration and enlistment office, but through the competent use of legal instruments, and appealing the decision of the medical commission is possible not only administratively, but also in court. If a young man has been assigned a specific fitness category, and he does not agree with it, then he needs to request a referral for further examination, or for an in-person control medical examination (CMC). If the KMO does not satisfy the conscript, then he has the right to go to court, notifying the military commissariat of his decision.
Fitness category for military service “D” is assigned after a military medical commission, which evaluates the conscript’s health status. Doctors here are not involved in making a diagnosis or prescribing treatment. The purpose of this procedure is to determine the degree of suitability of a young man for service and to establish a list of recommended branches of the military.
What does category “D” mean on a military ID?
The draft commission assigns this fitness category to those conscripts who have serious illnesses of a persistent or progressive nature. It is the severe nature of the diseases that explains the specificity of category “D”: the army is completely inaccessible to it. Its holders are exempt from conscription for military service, military training and general mobilization in wartime.
Typically, patients who have category “D” on their military ID know in advance about their exemption from conscription. The corresponding diseases are accompanied by significant dysfunction and are of a pronounced nature. The exception is the hidden initial forms of some diseases, such as HIV or malignant tumors.
Expert opinion
Ekaterina Mikheeva, head of the legal department of the Assistance Service for Conscripts
Fitness category "D". List of diseases
A complete list of diseases in category “D” is indicated in. Among them:
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Category "D". Receipt procedure
- Before the start of the call, visit your doctor. Take from him all statements, tests, epicrisis and other documents confirming the presence of the disease, its degree and severity;
- receive a summons and undergo a medical examination at the military commissariat;
- hand over to the doctor of the specialization to which the disease relates all documents with seals and signatures of the medical institution;
- receive a referral for additional examination and undergo it;
- go through the draft board;
- get a military ID.
Advice from the Recruit Help Service:
To obtain fitness category “D”, it is important that the diagnosis sound as indicated in the Schedule of Diseases. If the wording is different, the suitability category may be changed to another. For example, to category “B”.
How to change the fitness category “D”?
The disease schedule includes a strict list of diseases for assignment to category “D”. But diseases can occur hidden, or the commission for some reason may assign a different category. In such cases, the actions of the commission must be challenged in a higher authority or in court. In the second case, the procedure is as follows:
- Prepare. To do this as correctly as possible, it is better to seek help from a lawyer experienced in these matters.
- Attach the decision of the draft commission on assigning a fitness category to the application. You can request this document from the military registration and enlistment office yourself or delegate it to another person. If a third party undertakes the collection of documents, an appropriate power of attorney must be issued to him.
- All medical documents that confirm the disease are also submitted to the court.
Until the court's decision, the military registration and enlistment office has no right to issue any documents related to the suitability of the conscript.
With respect to you, Artem Tsuprekov, head of the human rights department of the Assistance Service for Conscripts in St. Petersburg.
We help conscripts obtain a military ID or a deferment from the army legally.
Before conscripting a young man into the army, the military commissariat collects possible information about him. They are represented by place of residence, education, marital status, general characteristics and, of course, health status. All data, except the latter, is personally collected by the citizen and submitted to the commission for consideration. For an objective assessment of the state of health, narrow specialists are involved, who, based on previously conducted examinations, can make their own conclusions.
The result of the work of the draft commission is crowned with the registration of the conscript, the formation of a personal file, and the entry of data into the registration certificate or military ID. All these activities are the basis of military accounting work, which will allow rational and effective replenishment of the ranks of the Armed Forces.
Why do you need a fitness category?
You can often hear the erroneous opinion that when conducting a medical examination, all conscripts can be divided into two groups.
- The first group will go to urgent service.
- The second, which includes young men with problematic health, will be sent to the reserve.
Such a judgment falls apart due to a number of emerging nuances. For example, it is very rare to meet an absolutely healthy person. Different types of troops have different requirements for conscripts. Moreover, these requirements are not related to health, but to anthropometric indicators. These examples are enough to understand that this method of dividing young men into groups will not be able to ensure adequate replenishment of the military personnel.
The solution to the selection of contingents for conscript service is regulated at the legislative level through the introduction of a provision on a military commission. One of the accompanying documents is the Schedule of Diseases. It contains a list of diseases with corresponding fitness categories that a conscript can receive. Thus, all citizens who have undergone a medical examination are assigned to one of five categories.
Accepted classification
All existing categories of fitness for military service have a strictly defined meaning. Since the decoding is carried out unambiguously, this approach ensures an unbiased attitude on the part of the military commissariat towards the person who has the corresponding entry on his military ID.
- A successfully completed examination conducted by medical specialists indicates fitness for military service and is reflected in categories “A” and “B”. However, these are two completely different groups, despite the fact that the service is provided in both cases. Those citizens who have not been identified with serious health problems are eligible.
- The young man is fit for service with category “B”, with the difference that there are still some restrictions on the type of military service. This means that after registering for military service, the conscript awaits a summons on a general basis. But due to identified minor deviations in physical development, he cannot serve, for example, in law enforcement agencies, airborne forces, or special forces.
- Some diseases can have more serious consequences, leading to physiological changes. The long course, complications, and constant visits to the doctor give reason to release the young man from military service. Category “B” means that the citizen is considered to be in reserve. During the period of mobilization he will be called up, albeit to non-combatant units.
- Complete exemption from military duty is possible only in the most severe cases, when irreversible consequences arise during the course of the disease. A complete list of diseases and symptoms for which a conscript is assigned category “D” is presented in the Schedule of Diseases.
- Quite often, an entry about the assignment of category “G” is made on the military ID. It is placed when a citizen needs to be given a certain time for treatment or after a long illness as rehabilitation. After the deferment, the young man will be called back to the commission, where a different category will necessarily be appointed. He will go to serve, or receive a military ID in his hands.
But the presence of five categories still does not provide a complete way out of the distribution situation. As we already mentioned, those who received the green light from the commission have different heights or weights, and this can serve as a basic indicator for some branches of the military.
For example, short guys are taken into tank forces, while a paratrooper is distinguished by his height indicators. In connection with these nuances, categories “A” and “B” are divided into four groups. The group number is called the destination indicator. It serves to clarify the suitability of a conscript for service in specific troops.
What is meant by category A1
As we have already noted, the numbers next to the letter indicate compliance with the requirements of various branches of the military. It is secretly believed that A1 is a category that a young man deserves not only by health indicators, but also by anthropometric parameters. With such values, service in special forces, airborne forces or marines becomes available.
Basic medical requirements are positioned in the following areas:
- visual field limitations;
- color sensitivity;
- height;
- weight;
- hearing indicators.
There should be no restriction on the field of view at all. In some cases, a value of up to 20 degrees is allowed. The young man’s height lies in the range with a lower limit of 175 cm. Weight is a parameter that cannot have an absolute value, since depending on height it can change its nominal value. For category A1, it is important that there is no obesity of the second degree. Hearing standards are determined by the distance from which whispered speech can be heard. In our case, it is no less than 6 meters.
Whether or not you will be drafted into the army depends on what category the citizen will be assigned.
There are 5 main categories of suitability:
- “A” - fit for military service;
- “B” - fit for military service with minor restrictions;
- “B” - limited fit for military service;
- “G” - temporarily unfit for military service;
- "D" - not fit for military service.
(Clause 2, Article 5.1. Federal Law “On Military Duty and Military Service”)
Let's look at each category separately.
Fitness category A.
Fitness category B.
Which specific branches of the military a citizen is fit for is indicated in the number following the letter B (for example, fitness category B3) - this is called the mission indicator. We will examine in more detail what type of troops each figure refers to at the very end of this article.
Fitness category B.
After receiving a military ID, there is no need for this citizen to prove the presence of non-conscription diseases in the future, because medical re-examination was canceled on January 1, 2005 by decree of President Putin.
Fitness category G.
With this category, a citizen is granted a deferment from conscription for a period of 6 months to 1 year (depending on the severity of the disease). At the end of the deferment, the citizen is subject to conscription on a general basis (i.e., a medical examination will need to be taken again as part of the conscription for military service).
Fitness category D.
There is no need for this citizen to prove the presence of non-conscript diseases in the future, because medical re-examination was canceled as of January 1, 2005.
Indicators of purpose B1, B2, B3, B4.
The indicator of assignment to military service, branch of the military, or military unit is determined in accordance with the Table of Additional Requirements for the State of Health of Citizens (Appendix to the Regulations on Military Medical Examination).
Category B1.
Special forces units, marines, airborne, air assault military units, border troops of the Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation.
Category B2.
Submarines, submarines;
Drivers and crew members of tanks, self-propelled artillery units, engineering vehicles based on tanks and tractors.
Category B3.
Drivers and crew members of infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers and missile launchers;
Other units of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, guard units;
Chemical units, fuel refueling and storage specialists;
Anti-aircraft missile units;
Category B4.
Special facilities, security and defense specialists for combat missile systems;
Communication parts, radio engineering parts;
The rest of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, other troops, military formations and bodies.
A military medical commission examines conscripts and determines the citizen’s level of readiness for military service. The decision becomes the fitness category (A, B, C, D or D), it is entered into the military registration documents.
It should be understood that draft board doctors do not diagnose or prescribe treatment. Based on health conditions, they determine whether a conscript is fit for service, in which troops he can serve, and whether he has the right to a deferment.
What does the suitability category mean?
- A – good health allows you to serve in any military unit of the army;
- B – there are minor health problems that allow you to undergo drill training in some military units;
- B – there are pathological changes in physical condition that prevent service in times of peace;
- D – there are some diseases that can be cured during treatment;
- D – a serious health condition does not allow a citizen to be drafted even during a war.
Category D in the military ID
Serious illnesses that cannot be treated serve as legal grounds for complete exemption from the army. The draft commission excludes a citizen from military service, does not call for military training and does not mobilize in wartime.
As a rule, young people who have serious health problems for several years know that they will be assigned category D. The diseases included in it last a long time and cause serious dysfunction of organs and systems. But in some cases, pathological changes are in the initial stages of development. They can be detected during examination in a clinical setting.
List of diseases
All diseases that fit category D can be found in the Schedule of Diseases. Here is a list of the main pathologies:
- tuberculosis in acute forms;
- chronic granulomatosis;
- AIDS;
- sexually transmitted infections of any origin;
- malignant tumors, rehabilitation period;
- benign neoplasms that lead to dysfunction of individual organs and entire systems;
- pathological changes in blood composition and disturbances in the functioning of hematopoietic organs;
- malfunction of the glands of the endocrine system;
- complex stages of the course of diseases of the digestive system (hernia, pancreatitis, etc.);
- mental disorders in complex forms;
- extreme degrees of dependence on alcohol and drugs;
- frequent manifestations of epilepsy;
- pathological changes in the functioning of the central nervous system in severe forms;
- pathological disturbances in the functioning of the visual organs, leading to;
- loss of auditory perception;
- congenital pathologies in severe forms;
- development of hypertension up to 2-3 degrees;
- heart failure;
- diseases leading to loss of voice and breathing problems;
- skin diseases that are difficult to treat (eczema, atypical dermatitis, etc.);
- serious problems in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system in severe forms;
- dysfunction of the genitourinary system of infectious and non-infectious origin;
- injuries that caused irreparable damage to physical health.
With a military ID issued, a citizen is subject to commission for health reasons. The assigned category means that there are no conditions for the conscript under which he would be drafted into the army.
How to get D?
Doctors of the draft commission conduct an examination based on existing data in medical documents. Therefore, before the start of conscription activities, a young man should prepare to undergo a military medical commission.
- before calling to see the attending physician, he will prepare medical documents (extract from the outpatient card, results of examinations, tests, diagnosis, etc.);
- Having received a summons, appear for a medical examination at the military registration and enlistment office with documents from the clinic;
- submit medical documents to a specialist on the existing disease; by decision of the commission, receive a military certificate.
The military medical commission evaluates the conscript's health twice. For the first time, a young man, in the year he turns 17, is registered for military training and receives a preliminary conclusion on his fitness for military service. Upon reaching 18 years of age, the citizen undergoes a re-examination, and the medical commission monitors the dynamics of the disease. If improvements have occurred, then the letter D changes to B.
Additional medical examination
The diagnosis of the attending physician must be formulated in the same way as in the Schedule of Diseases. In this case, category D will be guaranteed. Otherwise, specialists from the military medical commission may have doubts about the severity of the disease. Then the conscript is sent for a secondary medical examination. If a citizen refuses it, then the fitness category is established according to the available data and the person’s condition at the current moment. That is, instead of the expected letter D they will put V.
Is it possible to change the commission's conclusion?
The Schedule of Diseases contains a specific list with clearly defined diagnoses for category D. A different decision may be made if the disease is in the initial stages, when symptoms have not yet manifested themselves, or the diagnosis is not formulated in accordance with the Schedule of Diseases. If a citizen disagrees with the conclusion, he has the right to challenge it in court. To do this, the following steps are taken:
- It is necessary to undergo all examinations prescribed by the draft commission.
- Submit a complaint for trial. The statement is accompanied by the conclusion of a military medical commission. It is received at the military registration and enlistment office.
- A power of attorney will be required if a third party is preparing the documents.
- Medical documents confirming the presence of the disease and its severity are submitted to the judge for consideration.
If the conscript filed a complaint with the court, then the military registration and enlistment office employees do not have the right to draw up any documents confirming the category of suitability.
Legal support
Appealing the conclusion of a military medical commission in court requires competent preparation of documentation. You can't do this without the help of an expert. The lawyers of our company will help you correctly draw up an application to the court, prepare all the necessary documents and represent your interests in court.