How has Lax for the Cure impacted breast cancer research. What makes this lacrosse tournament unique. How much money has been raised since its inception. Who are the key organizers behind this event. What is the format of the tournament. How many teams and college coaches typically participate.
The Origins and Mission of Lax for the Cure
Lax for the Cure is an annual lacrosse tournament with a powerful purpose beyond the field. Founded in 2007, this event brings together hundreds of youth lacrosse teams to compete while raising funds and awareness for breast cancer research and support programs.
The tournament was conceived by Jessica Shoulberg, CFO of STEPS Lacrosse LLC and former Notre Dame lacrosse player. In the summer of 2007, three mothers in the STEPS Lacrosse club were battling breast cancer. This inspired Shoulberg to create an event that would harness the growing popularity of girls’ lacrosse to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.
Working with her husband Charlie Shoulberg, founder and CEO of STEPS Lacrosse, Jessica partnered with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to launch Lax for the Cure. The Komen Foundation recognized the potential in engaging the demographic of educated, motivated young women who play lacrosse.
Impressive Fundraising Milestones
Since its inception, Lax for the Cure has become one of the most impactful fundraising events in youth sports. As of 2018, the tournament had raised over $4,100,000 for breast cancer causes. This incredible sum demonstrates the power of combining athletic competition with philanthropic efforts.
How are these funds utilized? The majority of the money raised goes to programs offering:
- Breast cancer health services
- Breast cancer screening
- Education initiatives
- Treatment support
- Community outreach
Additionally, a portion of the funds supports national breast cancer research programs working towards finding a cure. The tournament’s financial impact continues to grow each year, with the 2018 event pushing the total raised past the $4 million mark.
Tournament Structure and Participation
Lax for the Cure has grown into one of the largest and most heavily recruited girls’ lacrosse tournaments in the United States. The 2018 edition featured over 200 teams competing across three days at New Egypt High School in New Jersey.
What age groups participate in the tournament? The event includes divisions for graduation years ranging from 2019 to 2026, allowing for a wide range of skill levels and age groups. This structure ensures that players from middle school through high school have the opportunity to compete and contribute to the cause.
The tournament attracts elite programs from across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, including:
- New York
- New Jersey
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
- New England
Teams from other parts of the country also travel to participate in this prestigious event. All divisions follow a championship-style format, adding to the competitive nature of the tournament.
College Recruitment Opportunities
Beyond its charitable mission, Lax for the Cure serves as a significant recruiting showcase for aspiring collegiate athletes. The 2018 tournament saw more than 150 college coaches in attendance, representing programs from various divisions and conferences.
This high level of college coach participation makes Lax for the Cure an attractive option for players looking to gain exposure and potentially earn athletic scholarships. The combination of top-tier competition and a noble cause creates a unique atmosphere that appeals to both players and recruiters.
Key Organizers and Partners
While Jessica and Charlie Shoulberg were the driving forces behind the tournament’s creation, additional partners have been crucial to its success and growth. K.C. and Deanna Knobloch of Moorestown High School and South Jersey Select Lacrosse Club joined the organizational efforts early on, helping to establish Lax for the Cure as a premier event.
The partnership with the Susan G. Komen Foundation provides credibility and infrastructure for the fundraising efforts. This collaboration ensures that the money raised is effectively distributed to worthwhile breast cancer initiatives.
Impact Beyond the Numbers
While the fundraising totals are impressive, the impact of Lax for the Cure extends far beyond the financial realm. The tournament serves as a powerful educational tool, raising awareness about breast cancer among young athletes and their families.
By connecting the sport of lacrosse to this important cause, the event encourages players to think beyond themselves and consider how they can use their athletic talents to make a difference in the world. This focus on social responsibility helps develop well-rounded individuals who understand the importance of giving back to their communities.
The Future of Lax for the Cure
As Lax for the Cure continues to grow in size and impact, what does the future hold for this unique event? The tournament’s success has inspired similar initiatives in other sports, demonstrating the potential for athletic competitions to serve as powerful fundraising vehicles.
Can the tournament expand to include more teams or additional locations? As interest in girls’ lacrosse continues to grow nationwide, there may be opportunities to create satellite events or regional qualifiers that feed into the main tournament. This could potentially increase both participation and fundraising totals.
What new technologies or strategies might be employed to enhance the fundraising efforts? With the rise of social media and crowdfunding platforms, there may be innovative ways to engage supporters beyond the immediate lacrosse community and amplify the tournament’s impact.
Potential Areas for Growth
- Expanding to multiple locations across the country
- Creating a boys’ lacrosse counterpart to the tournament
- Developing year-round engagement programs for participants
- Partnering with professional lacrosse leagues for increased visibility
- Implementing virtual components to reach a global audience
As Lax for the Cure approaches its 15th anniversary, the tournament’s organizers will likely be exploring ways to build upon its success and ensure its continued relevance in the ever-changing landscape of youth sports and charitable giving.
The Broader Impact on Youth Sports
Lax for the Cure serves as a shining example of how youth sports can be leveraged for social good. The tournament’s success has inspired similar events in other sports, demonstrating the potential for athletic competitions to serve as powerful fundraising and awareness-raising vehicles.
How does participating in events like Lax for the Cure benefit young athletes beyond the playing field? These experiences can help develop:
- A sense of social responsibility
- Empathy for those facing health challenges
- An understanding of the power of collective action
- Leadership skills through organizing fundraising efforts
- A broader perspective on the role of sports in society
By combining athletic competition with charitable efforts, events like Lax for the Cure create well-rounded athletes who understand the importance of using their talents and platforms to make a positive impact on the world around them.
Inspiring Similar Initiatives
The success of Lax for the Cure has not gone unnoticed in the broader sports community. Other sports have begun to implement similar tournament models that combine competition with charitable fundraising. Some examples include:
- Kick for the Cure (soccer)
- Spike for the Cure (volleyball)
- Swim for the Cure (swimming)
- Hoops for Hope (basketball)
These events demonstrate how the Lax for the Cure model can be adapted to various sports, creating a ripple effect of positive impact across youth athletics.
The Role of Corporate Sponsorship
While individual and team fundraising efforts form the backbone of Lax for the Cure’s financial success, corporate sponsorships play an increasingly important role in maximizing the event’s impact. How do these partnerships benefit both the tournament and the sponsors?
For Lax for the Cure, corporate sponsors provide:
- Additional financial support
- In-kind donations of equipment or services
- Marketing and promotional assistance
- Logistical support for event operations
In return, sponsors gain:
- Positive brand association with a worthy cause
- Exposure to a desirable demographic of young athletes and their families
- Opportunities for employee engagement and volunteering
- Tax benefits from charitable contributions
As the tournament continues to grow, attracting and maintaining strong corporate partnerships will be crucial for sustaining its impact and reaching new fundraising milestones.
Balancing Commerce and Cause
While corporate sponsorships provide valuable support, it’s essential for Lax for the Cure to maintain a balance between commercial interests and its core charitable mission. How can the tournament leverage corporate partnerships without compromising its integrity or alienating participants?
Some strategies for maintaining this balance include:
- Carefully vetting potential sponsors to ensure alignment with the event’s values
- Establishing clear guidelines for sponsor involvement and visibility
- Prioritizing sponsors with genuine commitments to breast cancer research and support
- Maintaining transparency about how sponsorship funds are utilized
- Involving participants in decisions about potential partnerships
By thoughtfully managing these relationships, Lax for the Cure can maximize the benefits of corporate support while staying true to its foundational purpose.
The Emotional Impact on Participants
While the financial and competitive aspects of Lax for the Cure are significant, the emotional impact on participants is equally important. Many players, coaches, and families have personal connections to breast cancer, making their involvement in the tournament deeply meaningful.
How does participating in Lax for the Cure affect those with direct experiences with breast cancer? For many, it provides:
- A sense of empowerment in the face of a challenging disease
- An opportunity to honor loved ones who have battled breast cancer
- A supportive community of others who understand their experiences
- A way to channel grief or anxiety into positive action
- Hope for a future where breast cancer is no longer a threat
These emotional connections create a powerful atmosphere at the tournament, where competitive spirit is balanced with a shared sense of purpose and solidarity.
Sharing Stories and Building Community
Lax for the Cure provides a platform for sharing personal stories related to breast cancer. How does this storytelling aspect contribute to the event’s impact? By highlighting individual experiences, the tournament:
- Puts human faces to the statistics of breast cancer
- Educates participants about the realities of the disease
- Inspires greater empathy and understanding
- Motivates players to redouble their fundraising efforts
- Creates lasting connections between participants
These shared narratives help transform Lax for the Cure from a simple athletic competition into a meaningful communal experience that resonates long after the final whistle blows.
Lax for the Cure (N.J.) this weekend at New Egypt (NJ) features over 200 teams; has raised over $2.5 million
by Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/21/18
More than 200 teams are competing Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the LAX For The Cure Summer Tournament at New Egypt High in New Egypt, NJ.
The event has two purposes: to provide a highly competitive tournament that brings many college coaches, but more importantly, to raise both awareness and money for the fight against breast cancer. Funds raised go to the North, Central and South Jersey Affiliates of Susan G. Komen. Heading into the event over $2.5 million has been raised.
More than 150 college coaches have committed to attend the event.
Teams in the age classes of 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 will compete with elite programs from New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania as well as from New England and beyond. All Divisions have championship-style formats.
Much of the funds go to programs that offer breast cancer health, breast cancer screening, education, treatment support and outreach. Other funds go to to national breast cancer research programs in search of a cure.
The tournament was the initial concept of Jessica Shoulberg, CFO of STEPS Lacrosse LLC, Former State Champion and Coach of the Year at Mendham High School and member of the inaugural Women’s Lacrosse team at Notre Dame.
During the summer of 2007 The STEPS Lacrosse club had three mothers fighting breast cancer. Shoulberg’s wanted to help in the fight against the disease and use the growth of girls’ lacrosse and the summer tournament circuit to start a tournament that would meet the ideals of players, parents, clubs, and college coaches. The goal was to ultimately find a way to raise funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer.
Jessica’s husband, Charlie Shoulberg, founder and CEO of STEPS Lacrosse, and former Asst. GM of the US Men’s National Team contacted The Susan G. Komen For The Cure Foundation. Komen embraced the idea that one of the fastest growing demographics of well educated, motivated, and pro-active young women are playing lacrosse.
Charlie Shoulberg also approached K.C. and Deanna Knobloch of Moorestown High School and South Jersey Select Lacrosse Club to help organize the event, which has grown into one of the largest and most recruited girls’ tournaments in the country.
An Individual Showcase will be held Thursday.
The full schedule can be found here (tourney machine).
See coverage of last year’s event.
2019 Pool Standings
Carnation
Team W L T
Capital:2019 Orange 0 0 0
Long Island Top Guns:19 Purple 0 0 0
Phantastix:White 0 0 0
South Jersey Devils:2019 Red 0 0 0
STEPS Elite:2019 White 0 0 0
YELLOW JACKETS:2019 Lonigro 0 0 0
Fuchsia
Team W L T
CT GRIZZLIES:navy 0 0 0
M&D:19 Red 0 0 0 0 0 0
Philly Blast Lacrosse:2019 0 0 0
South Jersey Devils:2019 Black 0 0 0
South Jersey Select:2019 Black 0 0 0
YELLOW JACKETS:2019 Fernandes 0 0 0
Magenta
Team W L T
CT GRIZZLIES:white 0 0 0
Quaker City Lacrosse:2019 0 0 0
Sky Walkers:2019 White 0 0 0
STEPS Elite Philly:2019 0 0 0
TeamONE Lacrosse Club:2019 0 0 0
YELLOW JACKETS:2019 Mitchell 0 0 0
Pink
Team W L T
Capital:2019 Blue 0 0 0
CCLax:2019 0 0 0
DEWLAX:HS BLUE 0 0 0
PA EXPRESS:orange 2019 0 0 0
Sky Walkers:2019 Blue 0 0 0
T3 Elite:North 2019 Black 0 0 0
Rose
Team W L T
M&D:19 Black 0 0 0
NEMS :NEMS 2019 0 0 0
Phantastix:Purple 0 0 0
South Jersey Select:2019 Pink 0 0 0
T3 Elite:Shore 2019 Black 0 0 0
YELLOW JACKETS:2019 CARRO 0 0 0
Salmon
Team W L T
Cardinals:2019 0 0 0
Carolina Fever:2019 0 0 0
Long Island Top Guns:19 Black 0 0 0
Salt City Snipers:19 0 0 0 0
SoundCrosse:2019 0 0 0
STEPS Elite:2019 Blue 0 0 0
Filed Under: Club, Girl’s/Women’s
Battle at the Base and Lax for a Cure WEEKEND RECAP – Laxachusetts Girls Lacrosse
Posted on by laxachusetts22
We had two tournaments running this weekend, Battle at the Base in Weymouth at Union Point and Lax For the Cure in Morristown, NJ. In Weymouth, all of our teams played exceptionally well. Showing off stick work, heart and hustle, our ladies did not shy away from a 50-50 ball. Down in Morristown NJ both 2022 and 2021 teams went undefeated 3-0, 6-0 for the weekend!! Our girls played aggressive defense, smart attacking and continued to work on their transition. We are so proud of how our ladies faced their competition and look forward to seeing some of them play next weekend in FLA!
Now, on to our players of the weekend…
LAX FOR A CURE PsOTW
2022 : Lauren Wong
Lauren controlled the attacking end for the 22s. Her stick work was smooth and in control and she finished her shots at crucial parts of the game. Lauren’s hard work in the ride, hustle to every 50-50 ball and well timed shots made her a stand out player this weekend. Great job, Lauren!
2021 : Lexi Schwartz
Lexi was on fire this weekend! Her aggressive ride into defense, powerful and placed shots and 100% hustle were a huge part of our teams success this weekend. Lexi worked at 110% all over the field and set a great tone for our games. Keep working hard Lexi, you had a great weekend!
BATTLE AT THE BASE PsOTW
2023 Jungle : Bella Juliano and Cam Traveis
Though Jungle did not get the results we wanted this weekend, Bella and Cam stood out for us at the BATB tournament. They took all of the draws and gave us a chance with each possession. Both girls went to the cage and created scoring opportunities for themselves and others while playing great defense!
Marine : Emily Rowley and Bridget Donovan
Both Emily and Bridget made huge plays this weekend that contributed to our 2-1 record for the tournament! In goal, Bridget came up with a few big saves during the day. In the midfield, Emily was an important member in our ride and in our transition on to attack. We all had a BLAST playing together! Great job girls!
2023 Forest : Rorie Newman
Rorie was consistently solid and reliable with 1v1 defense, helping her teammates and sliding to the ball or when she needed to crash. Rorie was strong in transition and in the ride causing many turnovers in all 3 games. Great job this weekend, Rorie!
2024 Red Sox : Marlee Austin
Despite the cold, especially when the sun went town, Marlee had endless high energy and was always the first to cheer for her teammates on the sidelines and get everyone going during warmups! In the midfield, she crushed the draw by out hustling her girl and being extremely scrappy around the circle. She always redefended in transition as hard as she could and had some clutch plays that were game changers for us. Awesome job, Marlee!
2024 Patriots : Lindsey Bennett, Lila Deluca, Mary Collins, Callie Burchill
These 4 girls crushed it this weekend! They stepped up and played great body defense in settled defense and in their ride in transition. They worked together as a team and never stopped working hard.
2025 Army : Sarah Bunnell
Sarah is our POTW for her athleticism in the midfield and her versatility to play anywhere on the field. She played solid defense and used her speed throughout the midfield. Sarah had a great attitude all day and gave 100 percent effort every time she was on the field!
2025 Hunter : McKenna Flowers
McKenna rocked it this weekend!! She had so many caused turnovers on defense by playing solid body defense, keeping contact and moving her feet. The second the ball hit the ground, she attacked it and was able to transition it out of the defensive end with speed and her solid stick work. She came up with a lot of big stops for us this weekend…awesome job, McKenna!
2027/2028 Black : Avery and Emerson Acquaviva
Both Avery and Emerson were a force to be reckoned with this weekend. Their athleticism and speed were impressive. They fought for every ground ball and they double teamed all over the field. They were aggressive on defense. They used their quickness to run by defenders and their accuracy with shooting helped their team go undefeated.
2027/2028 Green : Addie Curry
Addie did an awesome job this weekend! With a hat trick in the first game and fantastic defense in the championship game, she was an all around superstar! Keep up the great work, Addie.
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Because of what the conscript will not be taken into the army
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RG-Nedelya
Homeland
Thematic applications
Union
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Power
11/15/2018 17:50
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Recruits less than 150 cm tall and weighing less than 45 kg will not be accepted into the army
Yuri Gavrilov
It’s a hot time in military registration and enlistment offices. Of the recruits who have passed the necessary procedures, teams are formed to be sent to military service. But this is necessarily preceded by a medical examination of conscripts, and not for everyone it ends happily.
What diseases most often become an obstacle on the way of children to the army? Can the health of young people affect the place of their future service? What if the doctors at the military registration and enlistment office gave the young man a diagnosis with which he categorically disagrees? Andrey Datsko, deputy head of the Main Center for Military Medical Expertise of the Russian Defense Ministry, answered these and other questions in an exclusive interview with a Rossiyskaya Gazeta correspondent.
Andrei Vladimirovich, teachers in schools often complain that young people are growing sick. And your colleagues say that the health of conscripts has improved significantly in recent years. Who to believe?
Andrey Datsko: We must believe the facts. The final results of the recruiting campaigns show that the serviceability rate for military service now stands at 79 percent. This is significantly higher than it was five or six years ago, when up to a third of potential soldiers were released on health grounds.
Strictly speaking, it is incorrect to compare the health of schoolchildren and 18-year-old conscripts from a medical point of view. Boys study at school, the formation of the organism of which is still ongoing. There is a period of growing up, and some deviations in the physical condition of adolescents occur. They are identified during medical examination at the place of residence and, if necessary, a course of treatment is prescribed.
And before being called up, medical specialists study the results of medical examinations of young men for the entire period of their life.
Candidates for the Airborne Forces should not weigh more than 90 kilograms, because the safe use of parachute systems is designed specifically for such to the military offices.
Andrey Datsko: Quite right. The function of doctors in the military registration and enlistment office is only in the medical examination of recruits. And their comprehensive examination is the competence of a civil medical organization. We understand that the guy must have been ill with something before, he could have been under the supervision of doctors for a long time due to some kind of disease
It should also be taken into account that the military commissariats, before they start working with the guys, are required to request from various dispensaries, polyclinics all the medical information on future soldiers. That is, to know in advance with whom they will deal.
In addition, before a medical examination, conscripts are required to undergo studies – fluorography, ECG, blood and urine tests, blood tests for HIV, markers of hepatitis B and C. Only after receiving and studying this information, the conscript is examined by specialist doctors in the military commissariat .
… And they put in the documents of the recruit from childhood familiar, but little understood designations – the letters A, B, C, D, D. Explain what kind of alphabet this is?
Andrey Datsko: This is the category of a person’s suitability for military service. If the letter “A” is indicated, then it is suitable without restrictions. Most often, this category is received by those recruits who do not have any health problems. It is they who are sent to serve in the so-called elite troops, for example, in the Marine Corps, Airborne Forces, special forces, on ships of the Navy.
Category B children have minor health restrictions. In general, they are fit for military service, but not in all types and branches of the military. They will not send such people to the Airborne Forces, but, for example, in terms of aviation support – completely.
Expiration category “B” in the military card indicates that its owner is partially fit for military service. Usually, such a verdict is issued to a young man by specialist doctors if he has serious illnesses, and the draft board releases the conscript from military service.
With category “G” the conscript is temporarily unfit for military service due to health reasons. For example, due to a broken bone, underweight or obesity, other diseases and injuries that require treatment or long-term examination. He is given a delay (usually from several months to a year), after which the guy again undergoes a medical examination.
And if there are no more deviations, the conscript is sent to serve in the army.
Category “D” is the heaviest. With her, a young man is once and for all exempted not from conscription for military service, but from military duty. This category includes, in particular, people with very poor eyesight, blood diseases, severe disorders of the endocrine system, with a number of congenital diseases.
Doctors don’t decide whether to serve the guy or not. The final word remains with the draft board. And in the most controversial cases – after the court
Does it happen that a person’s category of fitness is changed, and in the end he still puts on a military uniform?
Andriy Datsko: Now this practice is spreading more and more, as in December 2017, the law secured the right of citizens who had previously been exempted from conscription for health reasons to undergo a second medical examination. I note that in recent years the very attractiveness of military service has increased significantly. Guys who five years ago, in order not to join the army, looked for illnesses in themselves and tried in every possible way to avoid being drafted, now they themselves are asking to join the ranks. Now, as a rule, it is not necessary to convince them that it is in their own interests not to delay the examination and examination.
Can you give a specific example?
Andrei Datsko: There are conditions and diseases in which a conscript is unfit for the army for a certain period of time. For example, if he has a metal structure after a bone fracture. When a draftee refuses to remove it within one or two drafts, doctors are forced to recognize him as partially fit. But if a young man is aimed at service, has undergone a course of treatment, his bone has grown together and the doctors have removed the metal structure, then now he can undergo a second examination. The category of fitness for him is changed from “C” to “A” or “B”, he is ready for conscription service.
But it should be understood that not all diseases for which citizens were previously exempted from service will allow them to be re-examined and go to the army in the future. The list of these diseases is quite limited.
Do you keep statistics on the most common ailments among conscripts?
Andrey Datsko: Don’t even hesitate, we are leading. She doesn’t change much, by the way. In this list, if I may say so, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, including flat feet, are in the lead. But only guys who are diagnosed with the third degree of flat feet are exempted from service.
I would like to note that before the change in legislation, literally five years ago, people with second-degree flat feet and arthrosis of the second stage could not join the army.
But experts came to the conclusion that there is a very thin diagnostic line between this diagnosis and the third degree of flat feet. Appropriate adjustments have been made to the schedule of illnesses.
In the structure of musculoskeletal diseases of conscripts, scoliosis, that is, curvature of the spine, which is already accompanied by pain and dysfunction of the spine, is distinguished.
And yet – the pathology of the joints. When such changes are revealed in young men, the road to the army is closed to them. But scoliosis is different from scoliosis. With the first or second degree of scoliosis without functional impairment with slight restrictions, but it is possible to serve as a conscript. Of course, not in the Airborne Forces, and the Marine Corps. And where the load on the soldier’s body is smaller. For example, in the communications troops.
The scourge of our time is heart disease, which is getting younger. Under what diagnoses is the path to the army ordered?
Andrey Datsko: Unfortunately, diseases of the circulatory system are quite common among conscripts. In particular, congenital heart defects and cardiac arrhythmias. But here, too, there are certain exceptions. In particular, associated with the identification of a bicuspid aortic valve. In principle, this is considered by cardiologists as a heart defect, but if it is compensated, the valve works correctly, then serving in the army with such a diagnosis is not prohibited.
If there is a hole in the interatrial septum of the heart and it allows blood to pass through, it is definitely impossible to serve with it. We cannot predict how the heart will behave under the load that the guys are experiencing in the service.
In no case should the factors of military labor lead to a deterioration in the state of health. The main thing here is not to harm a person.
Rarely, but 18-27-year-old boys are diagnosed with hypertension. Next come respiratory diseases, in particular, bronchial asthma. In the first “five” and diseases of the digestive system, including gastric and duodenal ulcers.
The so-called smorgasbord is introduced in the army, there is a dietary ration, but ulcers are not hired. Why?
Andrey Datsko: The food system and the norm of army rations are designed so that the body receives high-grade food with the necessary amount of calories, vitamins, microelements, etc. But the peptic ulcer itself is a rather serious disease, which is accompanied by formidable complications. This cannot be allowed, so the ulcers do not go to serve unambiguously.
Many conscripts are interested in what are the restrictions for service in terms of height, weight, vision.
Andrey Datsko: In the schedule of diseases there is such a thing – insufficient physical development. There, the lower growth threshold is indicated at 150 centimeters. If the conscript is lower, he is not taken into the army. The road there is closed even with a body weight of less than 45 kilograms. By sight, the upper limit allowed for service is “minus” 6 diopters inclusive.
It is important for doctors to figure out how external data correspond to the health of the conscript. Is it normal when a guy with a height of more than two meters weighs only 50 kilograms? Perhaps this is due to endocrine disorders, improper functioning of the digestive organs. Even if a person is harmoniously complex, with such height and mass, it is more likely to be assumed: he has a pathology of the heart.
Do you often encounter excessively obese conscripts?
Andrey Datsko: It happens. There is a special formula for determining body mass index. Guys whose obesity has reached the third and higher degree do not go to military service. They take service with the first and second degrees, but in any case, before the call, an overweight conscript is examined for the presence of concomitant pathology.
There are also restrictive norms for certain branches and branches of the military. For example, candidates for the Airborne Forces should not exceed 90 kilograms, because the safe use of parachute systems is designed for just such a weight.
Now for growth. For special forces, the upper limit is 185 centimeters and not lower than 170. Those who are not higher than 175 centimeters are sent to the tank troops, which is due to the ergonomics of the places for the crew in military equipment.
Today, according to the results of draft campaigns, 79 percent is the indicator of fitness for military service. Five or six years ago, up to a third of potential soldiers were released for health reasons
The conscript does not agree with the conclusions of the medical commission of the military registration and enlistment office. To whom to complain?
Andrey Datsko: Let’s clarify what kind of complaint we are talking about. If a person is not satisfied with the decision of the draft commission of the municipality, and it is she who decides to send him to military service, he must contact the draft commission of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation. I do not agree with her verdict – then write a statement to the court.
Understand, doctors don’t decide whether to serve a guy or not. They only determine the category of its suitability for health reasons. The last word remains with the draft commission – municipal, city, regional, regional, republican.
And in the most controversial cases – before the court. It is he who has the right to appoint an independent military medical examination or accept its conclusion for consideration.
But in the end, a control medical examination is still assigned by the draft commission of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation.
Hotline
The Main Organizational and Mobilization Directorate of the General Staff is launching a “direct telephone line” for questions of conscription for military service. You can contact them with your problems every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am to 12 pm Moscow time. Direct line phones: 8 (495) 498-96-96, 498-96-97, 498-96-98.
Rossiyskaya gazeta – Federal issue: No. 258(7721)
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Azerbaijan announced a 3% increase in tourist flow from Russia in 2018, which is much less than that of its neighbors. To what extent this figure corresponds to the dynamics of tour operator sales in this Transcaucasian direction, together with market experts, the ATOR Bulletin understood.
According to the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan, more than 2.8 million foreign tourists visited the country in 2018, which is 6% more than was recorded in 2017. Approximately one third of the total foreign tourist flow fell on the Russian market: 878 thousand tourists. The dynamics of the Russian market compared to 2017 was only 3%.
For comparison: in Georgia, following the results of 2018, they announced an increase in the tourist flow from the Russian Federation by 24% (1.4 million people), in Armenia, following the results of the first 9months of 2018 reported a 16% increase in Russian arrivals.
ORGANIZED TOURIST FLOW SHOWED A MODEST GROWTH
According to Russian tour operators, Azerbaijani statistics correlate with their sales data for the destination. According to the results of last year, market participants estimate the growth of the organized tourist flow to Azerbaijan as very small.
In 2018, the demand for tours to Azerbaijan among Russian tour operators increased by 1-3% or remained at the level of last year
Thus, according to the tour operator “Dolphin”, the demand for tours to Azerbaijan increased by 1%. Experts from the National Tour Operator ALEAN estimated the dynamics in the direction at a few percent, linking this both with the 2018 World Cup, and with expensive transportation and the high cost of holidays in hotels and resorts in Azerbaijan. According to ALEAN, a slight increase in demand was noted for health tours to the Naftalan resort.
According to Multitour tour operator, sales of tours to Azerbaijan were at the same level as in previous years, with a traditional decline in July-August due to extreme heat, and an increase in spring and early autumn.
WHAT HELPS THE GROWTH OF DEMAND IN THE DIRECTION
According to Russian tour operators, Azerbaijan loses popularity to Georgia and Armenia for a number of reasons, among which the issue of pricing stands out first of all in comparison with neighboring areas of the Transcaucasus.
“The smaller increase in tourists in Azerbaijan compared to Georgia and Armenia is due to a higher price tag for all services: hotels, meals, transfers. For example, the cost of air tickets to Baku, although it has fallen over the past few years, is still higher than, for example, to Yerevan. Food in Baku will cost an average of 20-25 dollars per person. In Yerevan – 1000 rubles. with a glass of wine, in Georgia – 5-10 dollars for huge portions,” says Anna Filatovskaya, PR director of the tour operator ICS Travel Group.
“If Georgia and Armenia do not raise prices during religious holidays and international events, the situation in Azerbaijan is different,” ALEAN added.
According to the observation of Dolphin’s experts, now Azerbaijan is not distinguished by a high return of tourists, the second time Russians, as a rule, return here only for treatment.
FOR WHAT PURPOSES DO TOURISTS GO TO AZERBAIJAN
Most often, organized tourists go to Azerbaijan for sightseeing tours (for various tour operators, this product accounts for from 30 to 75% of sales in the direction) and for treatment (up to 50%). Less often – on MICE trips (from 10 to 25%) and on a beach holiday.
Organized tourists often go to Azerbaijan for sightseeing tours (30 to 75% of sales from different companies) and for treatment (up to 50%). Less often – on MICE trips (from 10 to 25%) and on a beach holiday.
According to the tour operator ANEX Tour, tours with accommodation are booked more actively, most often without a flight. Currently, ANEX Tour operates flights to Baku on the basis of regular flights (GDS tours) with departures from Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Yekaterinburg, Kazan and St. Petersburg.
“Most of the tourist flow to Azerbaijan now consists of independent tourists, but package tours are gaining momentum, so this season we expect an increase in applications in this direction,” the press service of the tour operator said.
PROSPECTS FOR AZERBAIJAN AS A BEACH DESTINATION
Opinions of tour operators about whether Azerbaijan will be able to compete in the summer season 2019 for Russian “beach” tourists have diverged. According to most experts, it will be difficult for the Transcaucasian direction to do this for a number of reasons.
“Azerbaijan does not have a sufficient number of beach hotels for mass demand and a developed infrastructure for beach recreation, and the Caspian Sea has a very short “bathing” period,” Dolphin specialists believe.
Azerbaijan does not have a sufficient number of beach hotels and developed beach recreation infrastructure for mass demand, and the Caspian Sea has a very short “bathing” period
ICS Travel Group agrees with this point of view. According to Anna Filatovskaya, in order to increase the number of Russian tourists, the Azerbaijani side should think about reducing the cost of air tickets, offering special prices in hotels for tourist groups, building beach hotels on the coast, moreover, those that can work as SPA hotels or sanatoriums during the off-season and it give good prices.
The experts of the Multitour tour operator also draw attention to the lack of budget accommodation options in Azerbaijan, emphasizing that the quality of a beach holiday in this region is inferior to the Black Sea, and even more so, Mediterranean holidays.
More positively assess the prospects for a beach holiday in Azerbaijan, the specialists of the tour operator ALEAN. In their opinion, the biggest plus of holidays at sea in Azerbaijan is that all the beaches are located in the suburbs of Baku, thanks to which tourists can combine beach holidays with sightseeing trips.
HOW MUCH COST TOURS TO AZERBAIJAN
“Dolphin”: the cost of a sightseeing tour in Baku starts from $ 155 + air flight, medical tour – from $ 22 per day + air flight.
ALEAN: without a flight, the cost of an excursion tour starts from 3,600 rubles. per person per day. The price of health tours is from 2,600 rubles. per day per person.
ICS Travel Group : the cost of a 4-day weekend excursion tour for 2 people (based on double accommodation in a 3 * hotel) with flights and insurance starts from $ 1068, without flights – $ 516.
ANEX Tour: package tours to Azerbaijan start from 50,000 rubles. for two for 5 nights (3 * hotel with breakfast).
Multitour: sightseeing tour for 3 days/2 nights will cost from 10,695 rubles.