{"id":2603,"date":"2012-02-23T05:09:52","date_gmt":"2012-02-23T05:09:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=2603"},"modified":"2014-07-17T17:57:54","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T17:57:54","slug":"defender-of-the-fatherland-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/defender-of-the-fatherland-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Defender of the Fatherland Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n

February 23rd<\/sup> is yet another holiday in Russia – \u0414\u0435\u043d\u044c <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u0449\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u041e\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0430<\/strong> (Defender of the Fatherland Day). The majority of young Russian males end up serving in the Armed Forces as \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0437\u044b\u0432\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0438<\/span><\/strong> (draftees). Comparatively few Russian women serve in the military. Besides, women have their own holiday on March 8th<\/sup>. For all these reasons, February 23rd<\/sup> is usually viewed as a men\u2019s holiday.<\/p>\n

Since as I mentioned, most Russian males have some \u0430\u0440\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 <\/strong>\u043e<\/span><\/strong>\u043f\u044b\u0442<\/strong> (army experience), they tend to tell stories about their days in the military whenever an opportunity presents itself. And that\u2019s those with experience either as \u0441\u043e\u043b\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044b <\/strong>\u0441\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u0443<\/span>\u0436\u0431\u044b<\/strong> (draftee soldiers) who served for two years (if drafted before 2008) or even just one year (if drafter after 2008) or professional \u043a\u043e\u043d\u0442\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043a\u0442\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (contract soldiers).<\/p>\n

Interestingly, one of the official terms for \u201cmilitary obligation\u201d is \u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0438\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (the other one is \u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0438\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043e\u0431\u044f<\/span>\u0437\u0430\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/strong>). The two words \u043f\u043e\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (duty) and \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (fault, delinquency) are cognates, but shouldn\u2019t be confused.<\/p>\n

Back to the holiday\u2026 On this day, if you find yourself \u0432 <\/strong>\u0440\u0443\u0441\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u0449\u0435\u043c <\/strong>\u043a\u0440\u0443\u0433\u0443<\/span><\/strong> (in a company of Russian speakers), you are likely to hear tales, often tall tales, about their military service days. Or, borrowing a line from the classic, \u0431\u043e\u0439\u0446\u044b<\/span> <\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u043f\u043e\u043c\u0438\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u044e\u0442 <\/strong>\u043c\u0438\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0432\u0448\u0438\u0435 <\/strong>\u0434\u043d\u0438…<\/strong> (soldiers recall the days long gone).<\/p>\n

If you are a male, your Russian \u0441\u043e\u0431\u0435\u0441\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u0438\u043a<\/strong> (conversation partner) might assume you too served in the military forces of your country. So don\u2019t be surprised if you are asked about your rank or branch of service. Fathers-in-law are particularly prone to this line of questioning.<\/p>\n

In case you have served or are serving in the military, here\u2019s some basic info you need to know:<\/p>\n

\u0421\u0443\u0445\u043e\u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span><\/strong> (lit. ground forces) would be approximately equivalent to the Army<\/p>\n

\u0412\u043e\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u043e-<\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0437\u0434\u0443<\/span>\u0448\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u044b <\/strong>or\u0412\u0412\u0421<\/strong> would be same as the Air Force.<\/p>\n

\u0412\u043e\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u043e-<\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u0440\u0441\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439 <\/strong>\u0444\u043b\u043e\u0442 <\/strong>or\u0412\u041c\u0424<\/strong> is, of course, the Navy<\/p>\n

\u0412\u043e\u0437\u0434\u0443<\/span>\u0448\u043d\u043e-<\/strong>\u0434\u0435\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>or\u0412\u0414\u0412<\/strong> are not the Marines, but rather Airborne soldiers. These guys are so tough, they have a holiday of their own on August 2. So, if you are a red beret in the US Army, you get much respect from your father-in-law for sure.<\/p>\n

Now, \u0412\u043e\u043e\u0440\u0443\u0436\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u044b <\/strong>\u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0439\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u0424\u0435\u0434\u0435\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0446\u0438\u0438<\/strong> (Armed Forces of the Russian Federation) have something called \u043a\u043e\u0441\u043c\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span><\/strong> which immediately brings to mind the Starship Troopers movie (or am I the only one?). These are Aerospace Defense Forces. The final one is Strategic Missile Troops or \u0440\u0430\u043a\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0442\u0435\u0433\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e <\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0447\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f<\/strong>. I think these last two are covered under the Air Force in the US.<\/p>\n

So you can say \u042f <\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u0443\u0436\u0443<\/span>\/<\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u0443\u0436\u0438<\/span>\u043b <\/strong>\u0432<\/strong> ________________ (I serve\/served in the ____________) using your branch of service instead of the blank. Don\u2019t forget that you will have to use the prepositional case<\/span> here.<\/p>\n

\u042f \u0441\u043b\u0443\u0436\u0438<\/span>\u043b \u0432 \u0441\u0443\u0445\u043e\u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u0432\u043e\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0445 6 \u043b\u0435\u0442<\/strong>. (I served in the Army for 6 years).<\/p>\n

\u042f \u0441\u043b\u0443\u0436\u0443<\/span> \u0432 \u0432\u043e\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u043e-\u0432\u043e\u0437\u0434\u0443<\/span>\u0448\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u0441\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u0430\u0445 \u0443\u0436\u0435<\/span> 15 \u043b\u0435\u0442. \u0415\u0449\u0451<\/span> \u043f\u044f\u0442\u044c \u0438 \u0441\u043c\u043e\u0433\u0443<\/span> \u0432\u044b<\/span>\u0439\u0442\u0438 \u043d\u0430 \u043f\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u0438\u044e.<\/strong> (I\u2019ve served in the Air Force for 15 years. Five more and I can retire).<\/p>\n

\u042f \u0441\u0430\u043c \u043d\u0435 \u0441\u043b\u0443\u0436\u0438<\/span>\u043b, \u043d\u043e \u043c\u043e\u0439 \u043e\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0446 \u0431\u044b\u043b \u043c\u043e\u0440\u0441\u043a\u0438<\/span>\u043c \u043f\u0435\u0445\u043e\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0446\u0435\u043c<\/strong> (I didn\u2019t serve myself, but my father was a Marine).<\/p>\n

Now that we are clear with \u0440\u043e\u0434 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0439\u0441\u043a<\/strong> (branch of the military), it\u2019s time to figure out \u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0438\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435 <\/strong>\u0437\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f<\/strong> (military ranks).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Russian<\/strong><\/td>\nEnglish<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0420\u044f\u0434\u043e\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0439<\/strong><\/td>\nPrivate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0415\u0444\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u0442\u043e\u0440<\/strong><\/td>\nPrivate 1st<\/sup> class or lance-corporal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u041c\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u0448\u0438\u0439 \u0441\u0435\u0440\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0442<\/strong><\/td>\nCorporal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0421\u0435\u0440\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0442<\/strong><\/td>\nSergeant<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0421\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0448\u0438\u0439 \u0441\u0435\u0440\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0442<\/strong><\/td>\nStaff Sergeant or Sergeant First Class<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0421\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0448\u0438\u043d\u0430<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nMaster Sergeant or Sergeant Major<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u041c\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u0448\u0438\u0439 \u043b\u0435\u0439\u0442\u0435\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0442<\/strong><\/td>\n2nd<\/sup> Leutenant<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u041b\u0435\u0439\u0442\u0435\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0442<\/strong><\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0421\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0448\u0438\u0439 \u043b\u0435\u0439\u0442\u0435\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0442<\/strong><\/td>\n1st<\/sup> Leutenant<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u041a\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043d<\/strong><\/td>\nCaptain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u041c\u0430\u0439\u043e<\/span>\u0440<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0Major<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u041f\u043e\u0434\u043f\u043e\u043b\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043d\u0438\u043a<\/strong><\/td>\nLeutenant-Colonel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u041f\u043e\u043b\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043d\u0438\u043a<\/strong><\/td>\nColonel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0413\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043b-\u043c\u0430\u0439\u043e<\/span>\u0440<\/strong><\/td>\nBrigadier General<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0413\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043b-\u043b\u0435\u0439\u0442\u0435\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0442<\/strong><\/td>\nMajor General<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0413\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043b-\u043f\u043e\u043b\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043d\u0438\u043a<\/strong><\/td>\nLeutenant General<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0413\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043b \u0430<\/span>\u0440\u043c\u0438\u0438<\/strong><\/td>\nGeneral (four-star general)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Oh, two more absolutely must-know ranks are \u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0449\u0438\u043a<\/strong> (Warrant Officer) and \u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0448\u0438\u0439 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0449\u0438\u043a<\/strong> (Chief Warrant Officer). Which really puts you in a pickle if you are a warrant officer. You see, in Russia, \u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0449\u0438\u043a<\/strong> or \u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0440<\/strong> is usually portrayed as a dim-witted, arrogant, rude and frequently dishonest character. If a joke is not about a colonel or general, then it\u2019s for sure about a warrant:<\/p>\n

\u041d\u0435 \u0441\u043f\u043e\u0440\u044c \u0441 \u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043c \u043e \u0442\u043e\u043c, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0437\u0435\u043c\u043b\u044f<\/span> \u043a\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0433\u043b\u0430\u044f, \u0430 \u0442\u043e \u043e\u043d \u0437\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u0442 \u0442\u0435\u0431\u044f<\/span> \u0435\u0451<\/span> \u0440\u0430\u0437\u0440\u0430\u0432\u043d\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u044c. <\/strong>(Don\u2019t argue with a warrant that the Earth is round or he will order you to flatten it)<\/p>\n

\u041f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0449\u0438\u043a \u0432\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0435\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442 \u043e\u0441\u043b\u0430<\/span>. \u041e\u0441\u0451<\/span>\u043b \u0441\u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0438\u0432\u0430\u0435\u0442: \u00ab\u0422\u044b \u043a\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439?\u00bb \u041f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0449\u0438\u043a \u043e\u0442\u0432\u0435\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442: \u00ab\u042f – \u043e\u0444\u0438\u0446\u0435<\/span>\u0440, \u0430 \u0442\u044b \u043a\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439?\u00bb. \u041e\u0441\u0451<\/span>\u043b \u043e\u0442\u0432\u0435\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442: \u00ab\u041d\u0443, \u0442\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span> \u044f – \u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u0430\u0434\u044c\u00bb.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(A warrant meets a donkey. The donkey asks: who are you? I am an officer, – the warrant says, – and how are you? Well, then I am a horse, the donkey replies.)<\/p>\n

No wonder that Russians are mostly phasing out these two ranks and replacing them with sergeants. Which kind of sucks if you are a warrant officer \u2018cause in the US a warrant officer is an officer and not an enlisted.<\/p>\n

By the way, just as in the US military, in Russian enlisted soldiers must salute their officers. To salute is \u043e\u0442\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (lit: to render honor) while the word \u0441\u0430\u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0442<\/strong> means fireworks or gun salvo.<\/p>\n

And finally, if you were a commander of a unit, it\u2019s important to know words for \u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0438\u043d\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u0444\u043e\u0440\u043c\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435<\/strong> (military unit) you commanded:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Russian<\/strong><\/td>\nEnglish<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u041e\u0442\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435<\/strong><\/td>\nSquad<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0412\u0437\u0432\u043e\u0434<\/strong><\/td>\nPlatoon<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0420\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u0430<\/strong><\/td>\nCompany<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0411\u0430\u0442\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043e<\/span>\u043d<\/strong><\/td>\nBatallion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u041e\u0442\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u0434<\/strong><\/td>\nAnything from detachment-size to corps-size element<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u041f\u043e\u043b\u043a<\/strong><\/td>\nRegiment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0414\u0438\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0437\u0438\u044f<\/strong><\/td>\nDivision<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u041a\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043f\u0443\u0441<\/strong><\/td>\nCorps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0410<\/span><\/strong>\u0440\u043c\u0438\u044f<\/strong><\/td>\nArmy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u041e<\/span><\/strong>\u043a\u0440\u0443\u0433<\/strong><\/td>\nZone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Now combine all the elements:<\/p>\n

\u042f <\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u0443\u0436\u0438<\/span>\u043b <\/strong>\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0448\u0438\u043c <\/strong>\u0441\u0435\u0440\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u043e\u043c <\/strong>\u0441\u0443\u0445\u043e\u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u044b\u0445 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0439\u0441\u043a, <\/strong>\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u0448\u0435\u043b <\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u0438\u044e <\/strong>\u043f\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0443 <\/strong>\u043b\u0435\u0442 <\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0437\u0430<\/span>\u0434<\/strong> (I as a Sergeant First Class in the Army, but retired a couple of years ago)<\/p>\n

\u041c\u0443\u0436 <\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u0435<\/span>\u0439 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0440\u0438 – <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043b\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043d\u0438\u043a <\/strong>\u0412\u0412\u0421<\/strong> (My daughter\u2019s husband is an Air Force Colonel).<\/p>\n

\u041c\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u0431\u0440\u0430\u0442 – <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u043c\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0440 <\/strong>\u043e\u0442\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f<\/strong> (My brother is a squad leader).<\/p>\n

Hopefully, now you can join in the story-swapping. But only if you are a man. Women serving in the military will still have to wait until the International Women\u2019s Day, March 8th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

February 23rd is yet another holiday in Russia – \u0414\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0437\u0430\u0449\u0438\u0442\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0430 \u041e\u0442\u0435\u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0430 (Defender of the Fatherland Day). The majority of young Russian males end up serving in the Armed Forces as \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0437\u044b\u0432\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0438 (draftees). Comparatively few Russian women serve in the military. Besides, women have their own holiday on March 8th. For all these reasons, February…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":2604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,8,913],"tags":[117524,117528,1045,1211,117525,1240,117526,117527],"class_list":["post-2603","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-language","category-traditions","tag-armed-forces-of-russian-federation","tag-branches-of-russian-military","tag-defender-of-the-fatherland-day","tag-russia","tag-russian-army","tag-russian-holidays","tag-russian-military","tag-russian-military-ranks"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t