25.02.2011.

First contracts for voluntary military service signed

The first generation of young men and women from the territory of the Regional Center of Belgrade, signed an agreement with the Ministry of Defense for voluntary military service today. The contracts were signed in the House of the Guards at Topcider by some 50future soldiers, where the three-month training will commence on 1 March in the regional training centers in Sombor, Valjevo and Leskovac.

As the first candidates to follow in the trodden footsteps of military service, but on voluntary basis, you have entered into history. You will start your training in the snow environment, which is ideal for training and testing both your mental and physical capacities. I have no doubt that our colleagues in the regional centers have created conditions for your admission, shelter, triage and clothing. Wish you to get the most our of these three months, well, to be enable for special military services and thus gain the right to possibly become professional soldiers – as Colonel Dragosav Lackovic. Chief of the Defense Obligations Department addressed the assembled men and women.

According to him, the interest of young people in serving the army on voluntary basis has exceeded the capacities and needs of the Serbian army. As many as 1220 candidates, have applied for voluntary military service, for 500 openings, whereas out of 123 female candidates70 of them will be admitted into service and will wear the uniform.

Those young men and women who have not had a chance to be admitted, will have the opportunity to join the army during the September admission. Even the youngsters, aged from 19 to 30 who have served as conscripts in civil duty, will get an opportunity to serve under arms, which would enable them to apply for professional service in the army later, or the police or on duties of physical and technical protection – as was announced by Chief of the Defense Obligations Department .

He added that out of 55 candidates (51 men and four women) who have signed contracts in the House Guard, four of them will serve in the army twice as long.

These candidates will be referred to reserve officers course where the basic training lasts six months. They have to master the basic military training and to be able to command a platoon,- as Lackovic said.

The Head of the Belgrade Regional Center of Ministry of Defense Colonel Nebojsa Gligorijevic reminded the present candidates all the steps undertaken to make the army fully professional, adding that that the normative status of persons opting for voluntary service the active reserve and for professional soldiers has just recently been defined.

You will begin training under the supervision of experienced, motivated and educated commanders. Please note that you have passed a rigorous selection, you were chosen as the best pick. I have no doubt that you will achieve top results, which will be the result of your ability, commitment and determination. You have bear in mind the efforts and sacrifices you will have to make, but for such healthy young men and women, this will be a challenge- as colonel Gligorijevi? explained.

The agreement on voluntary military service was today signed by an MP from the Democratic Party Konstanty Samofalov.

I see this as my obligation to repay the state. Since I deal with the civilian control of the National Assembly, three months in the barracks will help me to better understand the military and make better decisions in the future. I expect to learn a lot, to hear how young people think, to hear their opinions about the future of our country. And I appeal to colleagues in the Assembly to decide to take this step as well, if this is not too much of a problem for them, and thus to show their solidarity.