Armenia`s Cabinet approves 18-month military service

ArmInfo.  On October 30, at its regular session, the Armenian government approved a reduction in the length of mandatory military service from 24 to 18 months, beginning with the winter conscription of 2025. The document containing amendments to the Law "On Military Service and the Status of  Servicemen" will be submitted to the National Assembly for urgent  consideration.

As stated by Deputy Defense Minister Arman Sargsyan, the process of  staffing the Armed Forces for the winter conscription will begin on  January 7, 2026. The 18-month period will not apply to those who are  still serving their mandatory military service as of January 1, 2026,  prior to this date.

As stated in the explanatory note to the document, the Government of  the Republic of Armenia's program for 2021-2026 envisages a reduction  in the length of mandatory military service by increasing contract  service. "In recent years, effective steps have been taken to expand  contract military service through the 'Defender of the Fatherland'  program (the number of beneficiaries is 4,220, according to the  Ministry of Defense), the introduction of a professional sergeant  system, a military personnel certification system, and a process for  organizing contract military service with the retention of early  military pensions in border military units. The results of these  measures are assessed as positive and contribute to increasing the  attractiveness and expansion of contract military service.

In this regard, it was deemed appropriate to reduce the 24-month  mandatory military service for privates by six months, starting with  the winter draft of 2025, establishing an 18-month mandatory military  service period," the document states.