Ministry of Defense Requirements for Certification: Areas Where Soldiers Lag

As of now, the number of soldiers who have participated in certifications within the Armed Forces of Armenia stands at 61 percent. This information was provided by the Ministry of Defense in response to a written inquiry from Tert.am.

Tert.am had received reports from soldiers indicating that the Ministry of Defense imposes requirements for certification that are virtually impossible to meet. It is important to note that soldiers who pass the certification receive a pay increase.

“Forty percent of soldiers who participated in the certification did not achieve at least the minimum passing scores. Specifically, 24 percent failed to meet the physical fitness benchmarks, 11 percent fell short in firearms training, and 5 percent did not reach the standards in professional and tactical training,” stated the Ministry of Defense.

Moreover, on March 21 of this year, Armenian Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan announced in the National Assembly that approximately 13,500 servicemen had participated in the certification process, with 57 percent receiving positive assessments.

“As a result of certification, the total monetary benefits for soldiers have increased from 205,000 to 470,000 drams,” the Minister added.