Russia military in big hunt for software developers
The Russian military has embarked on a major plan to mass recruit computer programmer with college degrees to join the army’s newly founded ‘science companies.’
Jul 12, 2013
In a newly developed plan, labeled "the big hunt for programmers," Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu emphasized that he used the term in a good sense and that the military required a huge number of software products in the next five years, RT reported Thursday.
In particular, Shoigu is cited in the report as saying that he had already instructed army recruiters to find the St. Petersburg students who had become world champions in computer programming.
"We need to work with these guys some way or another because we need them very much," he reportedly told heads of universities and institutes in a Moscow meeting.
According to preliminary reports, the report adds, such companies, 80 to 100 people each, "will work inside higher educational establishments and students and professors will be engaged in scientific projects ordered by the Defense Ministry."
For students the time spent in the military’s science companies would be considered as army service, which is compulsory in Russia, though people who receive higher education are usually granted a delay in conscription.
The Russian minister further added that there were a great number of tasks that required speedy solutions and noted that he would like to see "a new generation of people who would drive forward military science," vowing to provide such people with everything they needed for their work.
Shoigu also pledged that young programmers would not be recruited as soldiers as "they must serve in positions where they must bring maximum good, given their significant scientific and intellectual potential."
The Russian military, according to the report, is particularly interested in movable electricity generators using alternative energy sources and also water purification devices.
Robots, communications and "all innovations" have also been mentioned as other major interests.
According to the report, the initiative to organize science companies in the Russian army appeared earlier this year and was one of the first innovations introduced by Shoigu following his appointment as Defense Minister in November 2012.
In particular, Shoigu is cited in the report as saying that he had already instructed army recruiters to find the St. Petersburg students who had become world champions in computer programming.
"We need to work with these guys some way or another because we need them very much," he reportedly told heads of universities and institutes in a Moscow meeting.
According to preliminary reports, the report adds, such companies, 80 to 100 people each, "will work inside higher educational establishments and students and professors will be engaged in scientific projects ordered by the Defense Ministry."
For students the time spent in the military’s science companies would be considered as army service, which is compulsory in Russia, though people who receive higher education are usually granted a delay in conscription.
The Russian minister further added that there were a great number of tasks that required speedy solutions and noted that he would like to see "a new generation of people who would drive forward military science," vowing to provide such people with everything they needed for their work.
Shoigu also pledged that young programmers would not be recruited as soldiers as "they must serve in positions where they must bring maximum good, given their significant scientific and intellectual potential."
The Russian military, according to the report, is particularly interested in movable electricity generators using alternative energy sources and also water purification devices.
Robots, communications and "all innovations" have also been mentioned as other major interests.
According to the report, the initiative to organize science companies in the Russian army appeared earlier this year and was one of the first innovations introduced by Shoigu following his appointment as Defense Minister in November 2012.