Defense Ministry to present proposal on some form of mandatory military training

The Ministry of Defense has confirmed that it will soon come out with a proposal that would introduce mandatory military training after high school but in the form of a shorter course rather than mandatory military service, which Croatia suspended in 2007.  

Plans for the return of some kind of basic military training were recently announced by Prime Minister Plenković and the issue was discussed in the corridors of parliament on Wednesday.

"Military training has always been a topic of discussion at the Ministry and in the military. If you have trained people, you are more prepared. That's an issue we are looking at and we'll see which proposal will go forward,” said State Secretary Zdravko Jakop said after a meeting of the Defense Committee.

"We have to have somewhere from where we can fill our army and reserves," said comitee chairman Franko Vidović.

SDP MP Arsen Bauk said there were too many proposals floating around.

"First they were talking about mandatory service, then just a course, then a specific kind of course, and then recruiting more people into voluntary training. If this is to confuse our enemies, it could be useful, but it is confusing our citizens,” said Bauk.

Croatian Sovereigntist MP Željko Sačić said it was important for young Croatian men and young women, if they choose to do so, to have the basic skills to defend their country if needed.