Armenia seeking ways to replenish army's declining ranks

Armenia keeps frantically looking for ways to replenish the rather-depleted army personnel.

Thus, Defence Minister Suren Papikyan said at the November 14 session of the permanent parliamentary commission on defence and security issues that Armenian armed forces soldiers will be offered to go to a five-year contract service after six months of compulsory military service. Amendments should be made to the Law on Military Service and Military Personnel Status.

According to the project, "a new system of transition from compulsory military service to contract service - "Defender of the Fatherland" program - will be introduced to increase the attractiveness of military service under the contract, Caliber.Az reports referring to Armenian media.

"According to the program, after six months of compulsory service, soldiers will have the opportunity to switch to contract service for a period of five years," Papikyan said.

Even after the end of the contract term or early demobilization for health reasons, it will be possible to receive a reward. The amount of the awards is planned to be 5 million drams (about $12,500). The contracted servicemen will undergo an attestation and in case of a positive result will receive a pay increment.

"In case of an early withdrawal from the contract, the term of contract service will not be counted and the soldier will have to continue regular service," the minister added.

Along with this, it is proposed to end the Defence Ministry's "I" program, under which now only two soldiers continue to serve. In January 2023, their 36-month service will come to an end.

To recap, the "I" program was initiated by former Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan after the defeat of the Armenian army during the April 2016 battles. The implementation of the program was envisioned from January 1, 2018. While before the 44-day war, 515 citizens applied for military service and were enlisted in the Armenian Armed Forces under the "Me" project, after the 44-day war, the interest of Armenian conscripts in it completely disappeared and today it has been closed.