The VVS directive to begin selection of a new cosmonaut group was issued on 22 December 2005. The chairman of selection commission VVS was the First Deputy Chief of the TsPK cosmonaut training center, Major General V G Korzun. Four to six candidates were to be selected by 15 May 2006. However the deadline was extended, first to 15 July, then to the autumn of 2006. The records of over 1000 pilots were screened medically, then for other factors. By 24 May 2006, following further screening, a final six candidates were presented to the GMK medical board in August 2006. Five made it to the final selection announced in October.