Military etiquette: culture of communication of military personnel and norms of behavior

Since ancient times, warriors, defenders of the Motherland, have acted as a kind of standard of masculinity and good breeding. It is not for nothing that the expressions “officer honor”, ​​“honor of uniform”, as well as “military standing and bearing” are firmly nestled in the language. It is believed that the moral duty of a soldier is to be an example of patriotism, loyalty to his word and comrades, to protect and support the weak. All this is a consequence of carefully developed and thought out to the smallest detail military etiquette.

Like any form of ethics, military etiquette is based on well-known, universal ideals of morality. At the heart of the behavior of each individual are moral norms that prescribe respect for oneself and others, politeness, tolerance and a developed internal culture. Etiquette implies the presence of certain stable, developed in the process of mutual life, time-tested rules of behavior and communication.

These rules are not something static, once given - they invariably check themselves against modern realities and vary if necessary.

The characteristic features of military etiquette are their normativity and obligatory execution.

All norms, basics of behavior and service functions of military personnel are initially clearly and unambiguously spelled out in the relevant documents. In Russia, these are the Military Oath, the adoption of which precedes entry into the ranks of the army, and the charters of various types of the Armed Forces. It is also worth noting the great role of continuity, the traditions of the Russian army and navy. The history of the emergence of some norms, customs and elements of relationships has almost been forgotten, having lost their original relevance over time, the fulfillment of these norms is rather nominative, a tribute to traditions and the core of corporate solidarity.

It is not for nothing that military etiquette is famous for its strictness, because the very existence of the army depends on the correct and unambiguous observance of the norms. Its functions are quite extensive and affect almost all aspects of the life of military personnel and society.

• Military-political or nationwide the function of etiquette is decisive and consists in the formation of a combat-ready and patriotic personnel capable of not only effectively defending their homeland in battle, but also shaping the image of the army in the eyes of the international community.
• Disciplinary the function is focused on the formation of the internal moral core of a serviceman, on knowledge of regulations and corporate norms.
• Service and regulatory the function determines internal relationships, builds a hierarchical ladder, introduces standards for communication and appeal.
• Educational the role of etiquette is to increase the internal culture of military personnel, instilling in them fundamental norms of ethics, such as duty, honor and valor.
• aesthetic the role is, on the one hand, in instilling in the individual the foundations of good taste, on the other hand, in shaping a positively perceived image of a serviceman.

The structure of military etiquette clearly shows the division into two main elements - the system of military attributes and the system of norms. Attributes determine the appearance of military personnel, while norms declare the principles of relationships, communication and personal responsibility.

The appearance of military personnel is a well-deserved object of envy and pride. A military man must always be clean and tidy, neat to the point of pedantry, clean-shaven, combed and well-groomed, have good posture and a brave step. All these seemingly insignificant features that form an integral image are the result of a clear and consistent observance of the norms and rules of attributive etiquette.

However, the iconic attributes of a soldier, without which it is difficult to imagine the very performance of service, are uniforms and personal weapons.

The form of different types of troops is determined by the order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, which regulates in detail the norms and rules for handling clothing. The uniform must be kept clean and tidy. it is forbidden to wear unidentified clothing or to combine military clothing with civilian clothing.

The rules regarding the wearing of clothing apply to both active military personnel and those who are transferred to the reserve with the right to wear military uniform.

The regulation describing the rules for storing and carrying weapons is even stricter, since violation of its norms poses an immediate danger to the life of the soldier himself and the people around him. Storage of weapons is allowed only in specially designated, specially protected places.. It is issued only when necessary and under personal responsibility, for which the issued weapon is assigned to each individually.

As you know, speech can be of two types - oral and written. Both types are closely monitored and regulated. In the modern Russian army, as in any state structure, documentation is of great importance. Each soldier, and even more so an officer, must be able to competently and clearly draw up a report, memorandum or explanatory note, write a letter or report.

All possible forms of written speech are subject to established patterns adopted on the basis of special orders.

Oral speech is mainly focused on the culture of giving and taking orders, formalized and ceremonial greetings. The speech prescribes respect for juniors to seniors in rank, the same, in turn, should address military personnel who are junior in rank with respect, but without familiarities.

A unique form of verbal etiquette of military personnel is such a phenomenon as a military greeting. It is traditionally given to the senior in rank. In this case, you should press your left hand to the body, and bring your right hand to the cap. In the absence of a cap, it is enough just to turn your head towards the senior in rank. However, the charter clearly and in detail prescribes all possible configurations - standing, on the move, in a cap and without it, up to situations when the greeting person's hands are busy.

Military personnel must follow strict etiquette not only among their own, but also in public places and at home. The behavior of a person in uniform at no time in his life is his personal, individual matter, since he is the face of the army or navy and is obliged to maintain a positive moral, ethical and aesthetic image of a soldier.

The charter prescribes to observe the norms of etiquette in all situations. For example, on the street you can not smoke on the go and in front of people, throw garbage past the trash cans. Punctuality, courtesy and respect for other people and objects of art should be shown in cinema, theater, museums and other cultural institutions. The serviceman must also be polite and helpful with ladies, children and the elderly, providing assistance and support when necessary.

For more information about military etiquette, see the following video.