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The Defense Ministry’s bill to reduce the duration of mandatory military service from 24 months to 18 months was approved by the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security Affairs ahead of plenary debates.
According to the ministry, recent initiatives—such as the Homeland Defender voluntary contract service, the certification system, the professional sergeant program, and others—have produced positive results and made voluntary service more attractive.
If adopted by parliament, the shorter service period will take effect with the 2025 winter conscription, but it will not apply to those who have already begun their service by then.
Defense Minister Suren Papikyan briefed lawmakers on the initiative.
MP Armen Khachatryan, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, said that multiple reforms in the military have made the initiative possible.