BOSAAF was a paramilitary organization in the Soviet Union. Its full name was the Volunteer Society for Assistance to the Army, Aviation, and Navy. It was established in 1927 as OSOAVIAKhIM and renamed DOSAAF in 1951. DOSAAF aimed to prepare Soviet youth for military service and, in some cases, even for war. While ostensibly a volunteer organization, membership was often compulsory for young people. Members were required to become specialists in their chosen field and engage in sports, including skiing, marksmanship, flying, and amateur radio. In the Soviet Union, DOSAAF played a key role in public civil defense training. It was responsible for training civilians in antiaircraft and chemical defense, and later, in defense against nuclear weapons. DOSAAF also had a role in the elimination of the consequences of emergency situations, such as catastrophes and natural disasters, helping the Ministry of Emergency Situations, according to Wikipedia.
