Russia expands veteran program to fast-track soldiers into civil service roles
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The Kremlin has opened the third intake of the “Time of Heroes” program, giving military veterans with high-school diplomas a direct route to training and state-recognized credentials for government and corporate positions.
The Kremlin announced the third intake of its "Time of Heroes" program, which aims to accelerate the transition of military veterans into civil-service and corporate jobs and reward those who served the country. Unlike earlier rounds that required a university degree, the new intake accepts applicants who have completed high school and offers three years of training, including an 18-month stint at the Presidential Academy, culminating in state-recognized diplomas. Sergei Kiriyenko, the first deputy chief of staff, said more than 5,000 people applied within 24 hours.
A draft law introduced on Oct. 28 would count military service as relevant experience for local-government positions, potentially granting veterans earlier eligibility for higher-ranking municipal jobs, salary bonuses and additional paid leave. In the September State Duma elections, candidates identified as war veterans secured over 10 percent of seats, according to election chief Ella Pamfilova, with 41 of those deputies belonging to United Russia and 19 having participated in earlier rounds of the program.
The initiative is presented as a career pathway for soldiers, complementing existing financial incentives such as signing bonuses of up to several million rubles and monthly war-zone pay of about 210,000 rubles. Proponents argue that the program helps integrate veterans into the Russian bureaucracy and reinforces public support for the war.
"This is all a performance—it's political and administrative work by the Kremlin's political bloc," said Farida Rustamova, a Russian political journalist and founder of the independent outlet Vlast. She added that most participants are likely to become professional officials who can be readily managed.
Admission to the program remains highly competitive. The first class received 83 selections from 44,000 applicants, while the second round admitted 85 candidates from 21,644 applicants, many of whom were carried over from the first intake. Applications for the latest intake close on Jan. 25, 2027, though the number of available slots has not been disclosed.