Parliament proposes adapting civil protection service ranks to NATO standards
MPs from the Servant of the People faction propose that the Verkhovna Rada bring the system of special ranks of the civil defense service into line with NATO standards.
The corresponding bill No. 14177 on amendments to certain laws on improving legislation on civil defense service, social protection of persons involved in emergency and rescue and other emergency work, as well as victims of dangerous situations, was registered in the Verkhovna Rada on October 31, the parliament’s website says.
The authors of the bill initiate the modernization of the system of special ranks for junior command staff. They propose to introduce new ranks (corporal, junior sergeant, senior sergeant, and others). According to the explanatory note to the bill, the modernization of the system of special ranks will lead to an increase in the total length of service, the necessary career growth from the current five years to 19 years.
"Such a step will provide the opportunity for continuous self-improvement and career growth of personnel and will bring the rank system in line with NATO standards," the document states.
In addition, the people’s deputies propose to eliminate the special rank of "general of the civil defense service" as unnecessary and practically unattainable.
The bill also proposes to improve the passage of civil defense service for persons involved in emergency and rescue operations. The bill provides for the continuation of service in bodies and units of the civil defense service in positions not related to risk to life for persons who were dismissed from service due to health reasons as a result of injury, contusion or illness received during the performance of official duties. This applies to representatives of the rank and file and command staff of the civil defense service, military personnel and police officers.
The document also proposes to establish a maximum period of continuous treatment (four months) without a corresponding decision of the medical-expert commission on the need for its continuation. In addition, the bill contains provisions on the introduction of additional social guarantees for private and command personnel, in particular, the payment of an allowance for performing service in shifts. The bill details the mechanism of medical and psychological rehabilitation, clarifies the definition of this concept, establishes a clear procedure for its completion, determines authorized health care institutions and sources of funding.
Among the authors of the bill are MPs Oleh Bondarenko, Olena Kryvoruchkina, Serhiy Mandziy.