Even today, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation remain an important factor and means of solving defensive tasks in the state's military security system. They are an institution of the state. The President and Government of the Russian Federation and other government bodies develop Russia's military policy, determine the place and role of the Armed Forces in the military organization, and the procedure for interaction with other state security structures based on the regulatory framework. In other words, the army and navy are created by the state, maintained (provided for) and used by the state for their intended purpose.

However, the Armed Forces of Russia, like the armies of other countries, are not made up of units, formations, or other established structures. Instead, they are formed by individuals. This means that each individual soldier is not just a "man with a gun," but a person in the truest sense of the word - a citizen of their country. They possess both military and social qualities, as well as various rights, freedoms, responsibilities, and duties. The state and the military interact through their soldiers based on their respective interests, goals, objectives, and functions, while society interacts based on its own interests. If, for example, one of the main tasks of the state in relation to the Armed Forces is to ensure their combat capability and combat readiness in order to preserve the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, then the main task and goal of society in relation to the army is to ensure the interests and needs of the individual. Society is interested in the reproduction of the individual as a sociocultural unit, which is the foundation and value of society. Modern society, including Russian society, cannot be neutral towards its own army, as it would have to "feed" a foreign army. The Russian Armed Forces ensure the security of society's material and spiritual values, as well as the tranquility and peaceful life of its citizens. The society sends representatives from families, ethnic groups, businesses, or social institutions to the Armed Forces.

Without violating the individual's freedom of choice regarding the type and nature of their activities, Russian society nevertheless "separates" a part of its citizens, albeit a relatively small one, and entrusts it to the Armed Forces. Therefore, society is interested in maintaining connections with the army not only through the state apparatus, but also directly. Today, the army is not only an institution of the state, but also an institution of society. Social relations between society and the army express a sociocultural and civic meaning, and they complement the main, official interactions between the military and political leadership of the Russian state and the Armed Forces.

Many authors now point out that Russian society has largely lost its former unity with the Armed Forces. For many objective and subjective reasons, as well as as a result of mistakes made by some government officials and the media, to some extent, the Russian army was alienated from Russian society. The word "Russian" used twice here is specifically used to emphasize the need for unity between our society and the army. This is one of the Russian traditions, a significant source of high morale of the troops.

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The social interaction between Russian society and the Armed Forces should be carried out in accordance with the constitutional norms that establish that the Russian Federation is a social state whose policy is aimed at creating conditions that ensure a decent life and free development of the individual (Article 7), and that the defense of the Fatherland is a duty and obligation of every citizen of the Russian Federation (Article 59). Military legislation, primarily the Federal Laws "On Defense" and "On the Status of Military Personnel," forms an important legal basis for the interaction between Russian society and the Armed Forces. Focusing on the legal framework allows us to compare the powers of the Russian state in relation to the Armed Forces and the possible directions, forms, and methods of interaction between public and non-governmental organizations, unions, and movements and the personnel of the army and navy. Addressing the legal and moral foundations of the interaction between Russian society and military personnel also serves as a warning against substituting the official and functional responsibilities of command personnel and other categories of military personnel, as well as their state and professional purpose, with social connections with society.

The interaction between Russian society and the Armed Forces reveals the non-state spectrum of social relations and the possible management of these relations by society. It should be emphasized that the influence of society on the army and navy does not and should not aim to replace the state's influence on the Armed Forces and their management. The social ties between our society and the army are intended to strengthen and supplement the state regulation of the army's activities with its own social means and forms, which are essentially social but also have a legal basis. These ties are intended to strengthen the spiritual and organizational unity of the army and the people, provide social assistance to the military personnel to improve their living conditions and leisure activities, promote health, preserve and enhance traditions, and develop the social qualities of military personnel, and address other social and spiritual-moral issues.

To demonstrate the possible directions and forms of interaction between Russian society and the Armed Forces, we can refer to the experience of the Mega-Pir Association, which has been operating for over six years. It was established primarily by reserve officers with the aim of continuing their active work in civilian conditions. Some of the officers who founded the new association retired from the military due to their seniority, while others were dismissed due to the rapid elimination of political, party, and Komsomol organizations in the Armed Forces. There were many young but experienced and well-educated officers outside the army and navy. Some of them are represented in the association.

The association's military background and desire to prove itself in a new field allowed it to establish itself quickly, find effective ways to apply its efforts, and achieve success. It is important to note that the association's social focus, particularly on military personnel, veterans of the army and navy, and their families, has been a key aspect of its work since its inception. The association's staff includes many officers and generals who have played a significant role in shaping the military's approach to human development, promoting humanism in military relations, and combating "hazing."They enriched the spiritual world of military personnel, developed their military and civilian skills, and strengthened military discipline. Even in the new conditions, they did not lose their professionalism in working with people and providing them with social assistance and support.

Since its early years, the Mega-Pir Association has been working to promote business, often in challenging circumstances, and has focused on achieving spiritual and moral goals, as well as fostering professionalism and mobilization among its employees. The association has also established a fund for social support, particularly for military personnel and their families.

The Foundation has provided material and financial assistance to the Pyatnitsky State Academic Russian Folk Choir, veterans in Moscow and other cities, the Children's Home in the South-Western Administrative District of Moscow, the Betta Recreation Center of the North Caucasus Military District, and the Second Central Military Hospital named after P.V. Mandryk. The Foundation has also established ten individual scholarships for students and children of military personnel from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs who have died in the line of duty. They provide assistance in the spa treatment of veterans of the Great Patriotic War and the Armed Forces.

The Association took an active part in the material and financial support of the World Youth Games in Moscow, for which it was awarded a special Diploma by the organizers of the Games. Every year, we participate in the organization and holding of Victory Day, Moscow City Day, and other anniversary and significant dates of the Russian Federation, the Armed Forces, Moscow, and other cities. An important event in the implementation of the Association's social function was the financial support for the restoration of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and churches in Stavropol. Currently, the Association is implementing social programs such as "Children" and "Veterans".quot;, "Military-patriotic education", "Education" and others.

For example, it has become a tradition to periodically hold practical seminars with teachers of secondary schools in Moscow. In 1999 alone, such seminars were held at the 38th Research Institute of Armored Vehicles and Weapons and the 21st Research Institute of Military Automotive Equipment. The Association actively promotes the military and historical past of Russia. Regular meetings of war and labor veterans, as well as evenings honoring veterans of the Great Patriotic War and the Armed Forces, are held.

The experience of the association's social interaction with many organizations and individuals also shows that it is necessary to strengthen the theoretical foundations of this interaction. Social and spiritual theoretical foundations are particularly relevant, as they allow for a deep and comprehensive understanding of social relations and the process of social interaction in the necessary aspects, the accumulation of reliable information, the preparation of the consciousness and the expansion of the spiritual world of those involved in social management, in order to make informed and appropriate management decisions, set goals and sequence their implementation, monitor their implementation, and evaluate the results.

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