Russian army pilot project to form units from gifted students successful - general
MOSCOW. Dec 6 (Interfax-AVN) - A pilot project to organize "science companies" -squads in the Russian army composed of gifted students drafted from civilian higher educational institutions - has proved successful, according to Deputy Defense Minister General of the Army Nikolai Pankov.
"The initial performance of the science companies has proved better than the best I expected. I have several times been to Voronezh, where 35 young men who are doubtlessly gifted are serving as operators. They have four inventions and dozens of research papers on their record," Pankov told a news conference at Interfax headquarters in Moscow.
"After four months, of the 35 soldiers of the science company in Voronezh, 22 expressed a desire to spend their careers in the armed forces," he said.
There are four science companies in the armed forces today, Pankov said.
"One can't afford to make a mistake in composing science companies," the general said. He said a student who wishes to join a science company needs a reference from senior staff at his institution. "We will do our best to avoid mistakes in composing them," Pankov said.