Russian Nuclear Weapons: Past, Present, and Future - Strategic ...

the armed forces, and referred to five decisive factors
in military development. 6 These were:
1. Improving the organization and structure of the
forces by converting all divisions and brigades to permanent
readiness brigades, abolishing the mass mobilization
principle and abandoning the division-based
system.
2. Enhancing the overall efficiency of command
and control (C 2 ) (later interpreted as opting for a
three-tiered structure: operational command-military
district-brigade).
3. Improving the personnel training system, including
military education and military science.
4. Equipping the armed forces with the latest
weapon systems and intelligence assets, primarily
high-technology, in order to “achieve air superiority,
deliver precision strikes on ground and maritime targets,
and ensure operational force deployment.”
5. Improving the social status of military personnel,
including pay and allowances, housing, and everyday
living conditions as well as a broad range of
support packages. 7
Careful analysis of the structure of foreign, including
NATO, militaries had convinced the reformers
to adopt an officer to enlisted personnel ratio of
1:15. The pre-reform 355,000 officer positions would
thus be pared back to only 150,000 and new demands
would be placed on these officers. 8 As not all positions
were filled, the planning envisaged shedding 205,000
officer posts by 2012 in order to optimize the system
by addressing its “top heavy” features that resulted
in having more colonels and lieutenant-colonels than
junior officers. 9 The officer reductions were severe: the
number of serving generals was to be reduced from
35