First drills of contract servicemen held in Armenia

The first exercises of the long-term contract service program "Defender of the Fatherland" participants have been held in Armenia.

The statement came from the Armenian Defence Ministry, Caliber.Az reports with reference to Armenian media.

The exercises' main focus is on physical and fire training, as well as increasing combat readiness. The officers observe that the soldiers participate in the exercises with great enthusiasm, that they learn all of the necessary skills, and that the results of their efforts are already visible.

"I was a conscript for 1.5 years and enjoyed my time in the army. That is why I decided to join the program and continue my military service," one of the program participants says.

The Armenian Defence Ministry announced a new program called "Defender of the Fatherland," which allows for contract service after 6 months of urgent service. The contract term is up to 5 years, with payments totalling 5 million drams [$12,659].

Contractors and other military personnel will be certified under this program, with the possibility of salary increases. Participants in the program will be paid more for front-line duty, depending on their rank.