IT companies often require professionals who might not be directly involved in programming or development but possess crucial understanding of industrial processes. Furthermore, many IT specialists frequently hold degrees in unrelated fields.
Russian businesses have formally requested military service deferments for physicists and IT specialists with non-specialized educational backgrounds. The proposal suggests a ratio of “one non-core specialist for every 50 specialists with relevant professional qualifications.” This initiative, put forth by the ANO “Digital Economy” organization, was reported by Forbes.
This request from “Digital Economy” comes in response to a July draft resolution from the Ministry of Digital Development. While the Ministry suggested expanding the list of IT specializations eligible for deferment to include radio physics, statistics, nuclear physics, and related technologies, it also proposed excluding certain fields such as applied physics, cryptography, and shipbuilding design, among others.
Leading IT companies shared their perspectives on the number of draft-age employees with non-specialized backgrounds and the potential impact of the Ministry`s proposed changes on their operations.
“I wouldn`t focus solely on administrative staff. Among analysts, developers, and administrators, there are many individuals with non-specialized education. Working without them would be incredibly difficult, as they constitute roughly a third of our workforce. Their absence would lead to a slowdown in growth and system implementation, primarily because there would be no one to define tasks. People working directly at enterprises understand their specific operations well, but often lack insight into the intricacies of IT system development and implementation. It is these non-core specialists within IT companies who bridge that gap. If we exclude them, tasks won`t be properly defined, resulting in less refined solutions for clients. Historically, in certain IT segments like internet technologies, physicists and chemists often predominated, as professional programmers were fewer. For me, as a developer of industrial cryptosystems, cryptographers are a foundational specialty. However, most cryptographers typically join the military after graduation, working under contract before transitioning to the civilian market.”
“Since conscription deferment rules were tightened some time ago to only cover employees with specialized education, companies, including mine, adapted by primarily hiring individuals who either didn`t require deferment or already possessed a relevant specialization. Many talented young professionals began seeking employment elsewhere or exploring other avenues to avoid potential conscription. This resulted in a decline in quality for us. Currently, we`ve filled those gaps and vacancies with staff who can work without conscription concerns. If the situation changes and deferments are granted to those with non-specialized degrees, it would significantly enhance our team. We`ve structured our business so that all critical personnel have military deferment. This includes various types of developers, project managers, directors, and other key roles. For instance, in our sales department, removing a sales director or manager would cripple our sales. It`s crucial for such individuals to be granted deferment.”
“I firmly believe that deferments are necessary for both physicists and IT company employees with non-specialized backgrounds, as I frequently observe these individuals performing pivotal functions. There`s a common misconception that everyone in an IT company is an `IT person,` but that`s not the reality. Developers might only make up 30% of the workforce; the rest handle diverse tasks like sales, marketing, and design. For an IT product company to maintain its production capabilities, the entire organizational structure must function effectively. For example, our analyst has a degree in `fundamental radio physics,` and our lead developer studied `state administration.` My own background is in `financial credit` with a specialization in `taxation,` yet I`ve been an IT company director for 12 years.”
Current Deferment Criteria: The Ministry of Digital Development`s deferment from compulsory military service for IT specialists has been in effect since March 2022. Eligibility criteria include a higher education degree in a specified field and employment at an accredited IT company for at least 11 months within the year prior to conscription. However, no work experience is required if the specialist started their job within one year of graduation.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth