Thinking about Nicolai Aounine, as well as the categories Mike has already mentioned, only sons were exempt from conscription.
I'm not sure how the Russian army trained its reserve officers, but Mike will doubtless be able to tell you more. In Germany, all healthy males were liable for military service from 17 to 45. A proportion were called up at 20 for full-time service and thereafter formed the first-line reserve. Those who were not called up formed the Ersatz Reserve (Replacement Reserve) and could be called up in time of war. Holders of the Abitur, equivalent to his school graduation but very academically exacting, could opt to serve as One-Year Volunteers, at the end of which they received reserve commissions. To be a reserve officer was a source of great pride, so the great majority of those eligible did. I can't remember where I read it, but a visitor to Berlin under the Kaiser wrote of his surprise at attending an army exercise where not only did all the ministers turn up in their uniforms, but they took part in a mock cavalry charge as well!
Ann
