Croatia Plans to Bring Back Mandatory Military Service For Men Starting In 2025

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Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anusic has announced that starting on January 1, 2025, young men in Croatia will be required to serve a two-month-long term in the military.

The duration of the military service will be two months commencing on January 1, 2025, and we will proceed as planned with the public. Anusic said in an interview with Croatian broadcaster RTL on Thursday that the salaries of soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and officers have been raised and their living conditions have been enhanced.

The minister stated that the revised budget for this year includes funds for updating the Croatian military in alignment with NATO allies.

The Croatian parliament is currently examining a proposed bill that suggests conscripting men between the ages of 18 and 27. Approximately 18,000 young men enroll with the Croatian military every year, however, it is anticipated that students will be exempt from mandatory service.

Croatia required its citizens to serve in the military after Yugoslavia’s dissolution until 2008, when it was put on hold temporarily. The Croatian military consists of unpaid volunteers earning a monthly salary of around 900 euros ($991).

Here is a guide for military service in Croatia

Croatia abolished compulsory military service in 2008, leading to a decline in the popularity of voluntary military training in recent years. In order to improve military readiness, Croatia will reinstate compulsory military service on January 1, 2025.

The Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Croatia, known as MORH, is currently preparing a new law to be presented for approval in the Parliament, also known as the Sabor. The majority of the information regarding the upcoming law has already been made public. In the following, we detail all information that is currently available regarding the proposal.

The mandatory military service in Croatia will start on January 1, 2025, and will last for a period of two months. This transition signifies a notable shift from elective to required duty.

The last time Croatia had mandatory military service was in 2008. After that, the compulsory military service for Croatian men was stopped, and individuals could only enlist voluntarily if they fulfilled specific criteria.

At present, Croatia has a military force of 15,000 active troops and 2,000 reservists. In 2022, just 402 people finished optional training, which was significantly less than the required 1,000 conscripts per year.

Roughly 18,000 Croatian young males reach the age of 18 annually. A large number of individuals will be required to serve in the military, but they will not all serve simultaneously. Between 4,000 and 4,500 conscripts are projected to participate in mandatory training during the initial year of compulsory military service.

The draft will be drawn from a group of men aged between 18 and 27. Women who choose to serve in the military can still do so voluntarily.

College students have the option to enlist in the military before starting college in order to be ready for the workforce immediately after graduation. Individuals can choose to complete military service before leaving Croatia to prevent the need to return to the country if they plan on traveling or moving abroad.

The Law on Service in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia requires recruits to successfully complete a medical examination, as detailed on this website. Medical assessments will be conducted to identify individuals who qualify for mandatory military enlistment. Only individuals who successfully complete all required exams will be summoned to the armed forces.

The medical assessment involves:

  • Medical check-up by a primary care physician
  • Evaluation conducted by a dentist
  • Anthropometric measurements
  • Reviewing the medical and other documents provided is crucial in assessing a candidate’s health status.

Health checkups and mental evaluations are carried out at the Institute of Aviation Medicine KB Dubrava in Zagreb and the Institute of Naval Medicine in Split.

Individuals who enroll in university following secondary school can ask for a postponement of compulsory military duty until they finish their academic studies. One might have a limited number of years to delay things.

Registering at universities does not provide a full exemption from compulsory military service. In this manner, it can only be prevented for a few years.

Individuals who want to join the military sooner have the option of volunteering before being conscripted. Voluntary service will be incorporated into the mandatory army service program, allowing participants to fulfill the requirement.

Dragovoljni ročnici have the option to enlist in the military at any point throughout the year. Candidates have the option to apply at the Regional Department for Defense Affairs (Područni odsjek za poslove obrane) based on their residential address or through online application. All departments can be seen here.

Croatia provides the option of voluntary military service to individuals of all genders. Candidates are eligible for training until the end of the calendar year they reach 30.

In order to enlist for voluntary military duty, individuals must:

  • Act as a Croatian citizen who has reached adulthood.
  • Take the medical examination.
  • Have not been subjected to any criminal proceedings.
  • Cannot receive a prison term without conditions for a criminal act lasting over six months.
  • Have not finished serving in the military
  • Have not yet made a request for the release or renunciation of Croatian citizenship?

If you choose not to participate in the required military service and be armed, there is an alternative available for you. In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, as stated below, you are entitled to the right of appeal of conscience. In this instance, you are required to fulfill military duties in a civilian capacity.

Military duty and the defense of the Republic of Croatia is the duty of all capable citizens.

Conscientious objection is allowed for those who, because of their religious or moral views, are not ready to participate in the performance of military duties in the armed forces. These persons are obliged to fulfill other duties determined by law.

The civil service alternative is expected to have a longer duration compared to mandatory military training, possibly up to twice as long. If military training is two months long, civil service could be extended to four months as an alternative.

New conscripts in Croatia will undergo mandatory military training in Požega, Sinj, and Knin. Požega is located in Slavonia within the Požega-Slavonia County, Knin is situated in the Dalmatian inland within the Šibenik-Knin County, and Sinj is found in the inland region of Split-Dalmatia County.

These training sites were selected to cater to the anticipated amount of recruits and offer the essential amenities for thorough training. New locations may be opened in the future based on the level of demand.

Mandatory military training

Compulsory military training will cover theoretical and practical aspects, including military doctrines and firearms handling and shooting. The training program will last for two months and will primarily focus on providing basic training, specifically targeting marksman skills.

Civil service training

Coordination of civil service will be overseen by the Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova (Ministry of the Interior), as well as civil protection, and local and regional governments. Civil service members will be tasked with important infrastructure projects as well as roles in the social protection system, like disaster response and providing first aid training.

Training for civil service is highly beneficial and can be fulfilling for individuals who wish to serve Croatia without being involved in weapons.

The expense of implementing compulsory military service will vary based on the selected framework. Preliminary calculations indicate approximately 66.4 million euro, but the cost may decrease because current military staff will handle the training. Costs will cover lodging, meals, stipends, and gear.

Recruits will be paid 700 euro per month as financial compensation.

The compulsory military training could also be considered for seniority at work and give possible employment benefits, but this is still being reviewed. Recruits who have served in the military may have the opportunity to continue their employment with the military with annual quotas that will be released gradually.

The recently passed law has not been released or endorsed yet. We will continue to wait for MORH to give us more information.

The main unanswered question is whether the Croatian diaspora residing in foreign countries will need to return to Croatia for military or civil service. During the previous compulsory military service, members of the diaspora were mandated to enlist, although it remains unconfirmed if this will be a repeated obligation. We have already submitted a request to MORH for further clarification on this matter. Once we get a response, we will revise this article.

Some additional questions include:

  • Will soldiers be required to serve in locations nearest to where they live?
  • What is the maximum amount of time one can delay military service in order to pursue higher education?
  • What is the duration of the compulsory civil service if you choose not to participate in military service?
  • Are there any other exceptions to military service besides civil service?
  • Is it possible for civilian individuals to choose positions or identify organizations to support the military on their own?
  • Do you need to attend work if you are employed at the Ministry of the Interior?
  • Will there ever be a requirement for women to participate in military service?
  • If you are drafted, will you receive paid time off from work?
  • Are there any measures in place to prevent job loss if you are drafted?
  • If you possess dual citizenship and have military experience in another country, are you eligible to join the Croatian military?
  • Is there any advantage to having a military service in terms of professional growth?

Besides serving voluntarily or being required to serve in the military, you have the option to pursue a career as a soldier or attend training to become a military officer in Croatia.

Professional military options are:

  • Professional soldier
  • Military seafaring
  • Military aviation
  • Military engineering
  • Military leadership and management

Skilled military personnel

If you are interested in joining the Croatian military, you have the opportunity to apply to be a profesionalni vojnik (professional soldier), also referred to as djelatni vojnik (active soldier).

A member of the Croatian Armed Forces performs necessary yet less challenging military duties. They could have positions such as quartermaster or corporal, performing tasks such as operational duties, phone operations, warehouse management, driving, and military roles suited to their rank and specialization.

Candidates typically acquire fundamental military knowledge by participating in voluntary military service. Those who excel in this service may have the opportunity to become permanent members of the Armed Forces.

Legal requirements include:

  • Croatian citizenship
  • Age up to 27
  • Good health
  • Completion of military service and specialist training
  • No criminal record

Source:

expatincroatia.com

Photo by Nelly Antoniadou on Unsplash

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Tags: croatia, croatian military
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