>>511262460
>negotiate with them directly?
Every base have own HR in HQ but without some connections with right people you can only just sign-up with brigade without even knowing what you should do until the end before sending to a specific unit.
>Do they refer you then back to "official" channel
You already did it officially. But instead being retaken by retard infantry colonel who emergency need fresh personnel you at least would know that you become %branchofbasename%
>What is the Russian for this?
Nah just random euphemism
>I'm guessing combat engineers get hit by drones a lot?
Everybody get's hit a lot. But engies just work with explosives and sometimes underfire so there no much big of a difference from regular infantry.
>Are "office" or other "soft" positions in Russian army not available to contractors I guess?
To many 500 and other chickens want's to sit on the chair and not risking own ass in the fields so this is not an option