1 minute read
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Professional servicemembers must be the foundation of a professional army in Armenia, but the system will be hybrid, Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan has said.
Speaking to lawmakers at the 2025 state budget debates, Papikyan recalled that the military has introduced a new service option, Homeland Defender, for servicemembers willing to voluntarily continue serving in the military after completing mandatory service.
“We’ve numerously said that the professional servicemembers must be the foundation of the professional army, that is, contract service, but we’ve also said that the system and concept that we adopted is about the system being hybrid. Meaning, mandatory service will continue to exist in Armenia, and it will be a resource for us to supplement the ranks of the professional army. And today, many young people join our professional army under the Homeland Defender program," he said.
Armenia has compulsory two-year military service for male citizens from the age of 18 to 27.