I still found the time when our country bore the proud title of a great maritime power. And I felt for myself what it means to be its representative. I remember the respect with which we, Soviet sailors, were treated in the ports of those countries where we visited with friendly visits during sea voyages. "Rusiko, sovietiko," they said to us with admiration and white envy.

There are no longer those ships on which we went, and long trips in the current difficult economic situation are now very rare.

According to statistics, our fleet has halved in the last six years.

But, as you know, the main place in the combat readiness of any army and navy is occupied not by "iron", in what quantity and no matter how formidable it may be, but by a person.

"At the top" finally realized that today, when the prestige of military service is undermined and thousands of officers and midshipmen leave the Armed Forces and continue to leave, which means that soon there will be no one to go on the remaining ships, it is necessary to somehow keep the officers who are ending their contract, keep them in service. But how?

Should I be interested financially? I am a captain of the 2nd rank, served in the Navy for 26 calendar years. My monthly allowance currently amounts to about $ 150 in foreign currency terms. For example, the same captain of the 2nd rank of the US Navy receives more than $ 5,000. It is better not to compare our living conditions. Only 3 percent of the officers and midshipmen of our unit are provided with housing...

Previously, we received at least moral satisfaction from the fact that we went out to sea, carried the flag of a great power in all the seas and oceans. Yes, we hadn't seen our families for months, but we knew what we were serving for. And now? It seems that our families are close by, and we don't go to sea, but there is no satisfaction. Why?

The fact is that there are several times more problems both in the service and in the family. And many people have broken the moral core that made them overcome the hardships and adversities of military service with dignity and honor.

What should I do? I believe that the first step is to raise the prestige of military service by reviving the glorious traditions of the navy.

Why not restore historical justice in relation to the Guards and Red Banner ships today? Many of them were written off for scrap, and with them "died" and honorary names that could be transferred to new ships. It will raise the sailors ' spirits!

It's time to revive the annual competitions for the title of "Best Commander ", "Best First Officer ", "Best in specialty" in the navy, give the competition wide publicity, and award winners. This, believe me, will also contribute to raising the prestige of military service.

And I would also like to say this. General Eisenhower once said of military morale that " it can be completely destroyed by protectionism, indifference, and injustice."

Now there are many manifestations of callousness and injustice in the army and navy. And not only on the part of senior managers, even in relation to each other! This is a sad fact in the life of our Armed Forces, which are now on the brink of survival.

They say: common misfortune unites. By the way, the Balkan crisis forced many naval officers to take a different look at their place in the ranks. I judge by our connection: discipline has increased, there are fewer reservations about economic and domestic difficulties, and responsibility for the assigned task has increased. But does this really require an emergency? I don't agree. To raise the prestige of the service, to revive the faith of the officer corps in the future and the desire to serve for the good of the Fatherland, you can do concrete everyday things both at the top and at the bottom. It's time to think about it seriously, before it's too late.

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