Total of 73 Men and 21 Women Begin Military Voluntary Training in Martin

Martin, August 4 (TASR) – A total of 108 people out of 246 applicants have been chosen for this year’s military voluntary training programme, which began on Friday at the Martin military training and mobilisation camp, TASR learnt on the same day.

Speaking at a muster ceremony marking the beginning of the programme, Defence Minister Peter Gajdos stated that 73 men and 21 women eventually joined the training.

“I believe that in 11 weeks we’ll be able to meet the training tasks. It’s a priority of the Defence Ministry and a priority in terms of meeting the Government Manifesto,” said Gajdos, adding that thanks to the changes in a law the remuneration for the training will increase by €730 to over €1,100.

The defence minister went on to say that the military voluntary training programme is aimed at creating military reserves.

Deputy Chief of Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces General Pavel Macko added that in order to become soldiers, the applicants will have to master all the basic skills and practical habits within 11 weeks. In addition to physical and psychological training the programme includes engineering, tactical, topographic and medical preparation and shooting.

“What they will learn here can be used in common life as well. If there is an accident on the road, they will be certainly better prepared to help, to control their own stress and to monitor the situation on the spot,” said Macko.

Primary school teacher Andrea Skutova from Dolny Hricov (Zilina region) is among the 21 women participating in the military voluntary training programme. “I probably applied because I inherited it [interest in military] from my dad … I’m mainly looking forward to fieldwork, shooting, and I want to try things that people usually don’t have access to,” she said.

After completing the programme, the graduates will automatically become members of the military reserves.