LORDS OF THE GUNS

This project is about military-patriotic education of children in Russia.

In Russia, military patriotic education has become part of the school system. From an early age children study Russian history, practice appropriate for their age tasks and skills, train at the patriotic military clubs.

In Caucasus region, where the cult of arms and military traditions are strong, there exist specialised cadet schools. In these schools, along with standard scholar cursus, are added such disciplines as spiritual teachings, multi-day field trainings with nights outside, parachute jumping and mastering arms.

On a regular basis cadets go through intensive training program at a base located near Stavropol city. These kids approach in a very adult way their “soldier job”.

Many of these children dream of a military career. One of the cadets, Dmitry Pavlov told us “I enjoy going to the field trips with all the gear, sit by the fire at night and sing to a guitar, wear military uniform, work with younger cadets. Communication with the officers is also very valuable for me. I would not learn at a normal school everything that I have learnt at the cadet’s school”.