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East Germany Conditions of Service
The NVA may be a people's army, but in early 1987 it was not
a classless army. It had a precise classification by rank group,
and a superior-subordinate or senior-junior relationship that
would be familiar to those experienced with the distribution of
authority in Western armies. Basically, service personnel were
broken down into soldiers, NCOs, warrant officers, officers, and
generals.
Service in the NVA is defined as conscript service, term
service, or career service. Conscripts are draftee privates who
serve eighteen months. Term privates and NCOs usually enlist for
three years but may choose to serve for up to ten years. Term
enlisted personnel can be promoted to the rank of sergeant or its
equivalent. Term officers serve at the pleasure of the Ministry
of Defense and can be promoted to the grade of captain or its
equivalent. Career NCOs serve at least ten years or until they
reach the age of retirement. Warrant officers serve for at least
fifteen years; career officers, for a minimum of twenty-five
years.
The pay scale in the NVA is according to rank. Special
bonuses are given for outstanding performance, and additional pay
is given for certain functions and for those serving in the
Border Troops or airspace security work. There was a 25 percent
increase in military pay in 1982. Military pay is exempt from
income taxes or social security requirements. Additionally, upon
completion of service, career service personnel are guaranteed a
position in the civilian sector with pay that at least equals
that received in the NVA.
The average daily ration prescribes 4,200 calories per day.
Border Troops receive a supplemental ration, as do flight
personnel and personnel at sea. In all, there are ten different
ration scales. As in the Soviet Army, mess personnel procure much
of the ration from the local economy, and units often supplement
the ration by cultivating gardens.
Most basic training is conducted within the unit to which the
soldier is assigned. The Border Troops and certain naval
personnel are taught in centralized special training units. An
extensive network of educational institutions exists for
improving the technical specialties of NCOs and officers, and
with only a few exceptions, those of senior rank are sent to
schools in the Soviet Union.
The training program in the NVA focuses upon two goals:
political reliability and technical competence. The remainder of
the training effort emphasizes developing technical skills to
employ, maintain, or repair equipment. Particularly within the
Air Force, Air Defense Force, and the People's Navy, officers
must become proficient in the Russian language. The NVA training
program not only serves the traditional function of improving the
performance of units and individuals but also is an important
tool for disciplining the people and teaching citizenship. In
this way, the NVA fulfills its role as a "school of socialism."
The NVA takes seriously its responsibilities for regulating
and disciplining military personnel. In 1982, following passage
of the new Military Service Law, these responsibilities were
increased. The new law expressly stated that disciplined behavior
was the duty of all military personnel. As before, the commander
was held responsible for maintaining discipline among his
subordinates. Commanding officers from the level of division
commander up were given the right to reduce a subordinate in
rank, and the already extensive system of reward and punishment
was enlarged further. New disciplinary units were instituted,
where those being punished typically spend one to three months.
This extreme penalty was intended for enlisted personnel and NCOs
who did not respond to less stringent disciplinary measures.
Data as of July 1987
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