ABSTRACT
Soviet adherence to the principle of universal conscription implies that the ethnic composition of those drafted into the armed forces should proportionately reflect the ethnic makeup of the Soviet population. The ethnic composition of one mechanized infantry regiment, which was stationed in the Far East in 1969 and is said to be typical, was 80 percent Slavs, 10 percent Central Asians, 5 percent Baits, and 5 percent Caucasians. According to our respondents, the common denominator of a majority of stroibat conscripts, Slav and non-Slav alike, is perceived disloyalty to the regime. A clear ethnic portrait of sergeants and noncommissioned officers emerges from the interviews. A number of smaller minorities residing in the Russian republic (RSFSR), such as Mordvinians, Udmurts, and Chuvash, appear to be considerably overrepresented. These nationalities also reenlist much more often than others and thus make up a high percentage of the noncommissioned officer corps.
