Armenia`s government specifies conditions for military service 

ArmInfo.The Government of Armenia, represented by the country's Ministry of Defense, is clarifying the  conditions for organizing the service of brothers in one military unit, applying certain consequences to citizens who have entered into an agreement on military service and decided to demobilize early.

The initiative to introduce amendments and additions to the RA Law "On  Military Service and the Status of Military Personnel" received a  positive opinion from the Parliamentary Commission on Defense and  National Security Issues on June 25.

According to Deputy Defense Minister Arman Sargsyan, within the  framework of the current legislation, a conscript is sent to the  military unit of his brother, who is in service, if the latter's  service period has not exceeded 17 months or, within the framework of  the announced conscription, this military unit is subject to  replenishment. The MoD proposes to set the older brother's service  life to 18 months instead of 17 months.

In addition, the Cabinet of Ministers is clarifying the norms for  exemption from compulsory military service for graduates of military  educational institutions of the Republic of Armenia and citizens  undergoing training under the "I have the honor" program.

In particular, within the framework of the current legislation, a  citizen who is the only son in the family and has a parent or brother  or sister who died during military operations in defense of the  Republic of Armenia or military service in the Armed Forces or other  is exempt from compulsory military service of ordinary personnel.  troops, or military service in military units of foreign states  located in the Republic of Armenia under international treaties of  the Republic of Armenia.

This rule can also be extended to participants in the "I have the  honor" program without paying "compensation". Let us remind you that  participants in this program are given the right to defer  conscription for military service; training in higher educational  institutions is carried out at the expense of the state with full  reimbursement of the cost of training in the amount of the annual  tuition fee established by the higher educational institution for the  relevant profession. After graduating from a university and military  training in the prescribed manner, the conscript is awarded the rank  of lieutenant, an agreement is concluded with him on contract service  as a junior officer, and he is assigned to service by drawing lots.

As representatives of the Ministry of Defense explained, today, if  the contract is terminated early and demobilized, graduates of  military educational institutions will have to pay a penalty (fine  and penalty) in the amount of 1 million drams for each year of  "non-service." The amount is payable within 10 years from the date of  application for demobilization (after graduation). Participants in  the "I have the honor" program will have to "pay out" double the  amount for each year of study.

As part of the initiative, military personnel, without presenting  material requirements to them, can be released from service for  health reasons and have received the right to a deferment during  military operations. Graduates of military educational institutions  of the Republic of Armenia who have received an apartment from the  state and are recognized as "temporarily unfit" will also be able to  take advantage of a similar right during mobilization.