Mandatory Military Service Term Reduction Bill Approved by Committee

The Permanent Commission on Defense and Security of the National Assembly has approved a government-proposed bill that suggests reducing the mandatory military service term by six months. The bill was presented at the committee meeting by Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan.

Papikyan noted that the current mandatory military service term of 24 months for conscripts is set to be replaced with an 18-month term, applicable to citizens drafted into mandatory military service after January 1, 2026. According to him, the replenishment of the armed forces will begin on January 7, 2026, as part of the winter draft of 2025, and those conscripted during that period will serve for 18 months.

The Minister emphasized that the reduction in service term is a result of ongoing efforts to enhance and expand the attractiveness of contract military service in recent years.