Legal basis of manning the Red Army in 1920s

The internal and international situation after the Civil War in Russia led to actions of theyoung Soviet state in the field of military construction, in particular in the recruitment of the Army and Navy. During the reporting period,a number of legal acts, aimed at solving complex problems have been enacted increasing the combat capability and combat readiness of units, reducing the cost of army maintenance; reducing the economic costs of maintaining the armed forces; and streamlining therules regulating the acquisition of the Red Army and military service. On September 22, 1922 a decree "On Compulsory Military Serviceof Citizens of the RSFSR" was enacted. It formalized the class principle, under which active military service was allowed only forworkers. There were postponements of military service provided - for health reason and for the completion of education, as well as forfamily-income class. Volunteers, including foreigners, could be accepted in the Army and Navy. Since 1923, after the publication of theCouncil of People's Commissars resolution "On Organization of Territorial Army Units and Military Training of Workers" a massivereformation of infantry and cavalry units to the militia began on the territorial basis. Technical units retained their professional type. Preconscriptiontraining of young people and non-military training for those not held on active duty were introduced. In 1924 a series ofregulations were issued, in which the terms of service in professional units were standardized, new privileges under the marital statuswere introduced, the military age was raised, special rules of service for persons with high educational qualification were established. Inconsequence of these and other activities a new law on compulsory military service was enacted in 1925. It regulated the procedure ofacquisition of the Red Army in more details and fixed the modernity that military reform had brought. It concerned three types of performanceof active duty  in the variable composition of human and territorial units and non-military manner. The concept of servicebeyond as a special type of voluntary military service was introduced. Pre-conscription training of young people preceded active service.For persons liable for military service mandatory military trainings were introduced. Terms of postponement of military service wereexpanded, exemption from military service on religious grounds became possible, and the forms of execution of military duties for leisuredpersons were concretised. In 1928 the law on compulsory military service was issued in a new edition. All this created quite acoherent and balanced system of manning the armed forces of the Soviet state.

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