Be Ready for Labor and Defense of the USSR
Background
Be Ready for Labor and Defense of the USSR, commonly abbreviated as GTO, is a Soviet-era and later Russian system of unified physical fitness standards and testing. It was created to set age-specific benchmarks for physical preparedness, originally focused on children and adolescents, and served as a state instrument for encouraging regular exercise, physical training, and readiness for labor and defense. In practical terms, the program matters because it links physical education with broader public policy goals, including youth development, health, and national preparedness.
The system operates through nationally defined standards that are organized by age group and can be administered across schools, sports institutions, and other public venues. Rather than functioning as a conventional government agency, GTO is a state-backed framework embedded in the broader Russian public administration and education and sport sectors. Its structure is centered on standardized testing criteria and certification mechanisms, which allow participants to demonstrate compliance with prescribed physical norms.
The program was introduced in 1934 for adolescents aged 13 to 16 and has remained a recognizable element of Russian physical culture since the Soviet period. Its historical significance lies in its role as one of the best-known mass fitness initiatives associated with Soviet and Russian state policy. In recent years, it has continued to evolve as authorities have linked it to new activities and incentives; for example, a 2026 report said Russia planned to add drone racing to GTO by 2027–2028, with pilot testing in several regions and benefits for successful participants.
Timeline
The government planned to add drone racing to the Be Ready for Labor and Defense of the USSR program by 2027–2028.
Drone Pilots Who Pass GTO Standards to Receive BenefitsPilot testing of the new GTO drone-racing standards was planned in four regions.
Drone Pilots Who Pass GTO Standards to Receive BenefitsPeople who earned GTO badges under the updated program were expected to receive benefits such as tax deductions and additional university admission points.
Drone Pilots Who Pass GTO Standards to Receive Benefits
Documents
Drone Pilots Who Pass GTO Standards to Receive Benefits
Russia plans to add drone racing to the GTO national fitness program by 2027–2028, following a Putin directive, with pilot testing in four regions and benefits including tax deductions and university admission points for badge holders.