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 br ... Read more