How can a 21 year old be a tank officer?

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Vadim Shishimarin is a Russian "Tank officer" who is currently on trial for allegedly shooting a 62 year old civilian Ukrainian man. He has not been convicted.

The term "Tank Officer" is not descriptive of his position. I believe he may be a Junior Sergeant or "Мла́дший сержа́нт" and in charge of a single tank or a Junior Lieutenant "Mла́дший лейтена́нт".

But the real question is how a 21 year old could be in charge of a tank or a number of tanks.

This is more likely than not. Young soldiers are often given enormous responsibilities - responsibilities that civilians in the outside world can't even understand.

Leaders in any Army tend to display maturity that is well beyond their years as responsibility is thrust upon them. Most rise to the occasion. Some don't. And those soldiers are usually shunted off to jobs where they have no responsibility.