The title was being contested by 24 Cossack cadet corps from different Russian regions. The participants displayed their knowledge in trials, including a public speech highlighting the activities of their respective Cossack cadet corps; an awareness test on events of the Great Patriotic War; the basics of universal military duty and military service, etc.
This year, the title of the Best Cossack Cadet Corps has been awarded to the Novorossiysk Cossack Cadet Corps (Krasnodar Territory). Established in 2008, it currently has a student body of 218. This is its fourth victory in the contest. Coming in second and third were the Samara Cossack Cadet Corps (Samara Region) and the Shakhty Cossack Cadet corps (Rostov Region), respectively.
Taking part in the awards ceremony were Governor of Samara Region Dmitry Azarov, Deputy Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Volga Federal District Igor Panshin, Deputy Head of the Presidential Civil Service and Personnel Directorate Alexander Orekhov, as well as representatives of the Education Ministry, the All-Russian Cossack Society, and the Russian Orthodox Church.
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The Russian national contest for the Best Cossack Cadet Corps title has been held for the past 12 years. Its winners are awarded the Challenge Banner of the President of the Russian Federation. In keeping with the relevant Presidential Executive Order, winners also receive monetary prizes: three million rubles for the first place, two million rubles for second place, and one million rubles for the third.