Prague, Aug 1 (CTK) – Hundreds of people have expressed interest in the voluntary military training introduced by a new legislation in July, Czech General Staff spokesman Jan Sulc told journalists yesterday.
About 500 people have filled in the registration questionnaire online, Sulc said, adding that people aged 17 to 96 have offered their services to the military.
However, the defence law says only people between 18 and 60 can be used by the military for the purpose.
If Czechs do not want to become career soldiers or active reserves members, but want to help the military, they may ask for recruitment for voluntary training.
This opportunity was provided for them by the “defence laws” that took effect in early July.
If they pass an exercise, they may be included in the reserve.
With their consent, the military can send them to eliminate the damage caused by elemental disasters.
“We reckon with the chance to perform a voluntary exercise in October, within a six-week basic training course in Vyskov, south Moravia,” Sulc said.
It is for those who have never served in the military in any form. The course will be the same as that for active reservists.
The recruits will learn to shoot from an assault rifle and undergo some basic combat, chemical warfare, health and topographic training, Sulc said.
Almost 100 of the candidates for the service have visited the recruitment centres where they submitted an official request for the training, Sulc said.
They are yet to undergo a medical check-up, he added.
Mainly young people who have never served in the military are interested in the training, Sulc said.
During the voluntary training, its participants will be paid the salary reflecting the base pay of a career soldier of the relevant rank.
In the case of the basic training course it is the rank of a private, with the salary of 9,900 crowns.
The participants will also receive free food, uniform and accommodation, Sulc said.
The military wants to build a “second military” from the active reserves. By 2025, it is to consist of 5,000 active reservists. At present, there are about 1,360 of them.
($1 = 24.324 crowns)
