Armenian Defence Minister meets beneficiaries of ‘I Have the Honour’ programme

Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan held a meeting and discussion on August 21 with beneficiaries of the “I Have the Honour” programme, who will soon join the officer corps of the Armenian Armed Forces. Papikyan said this in a post on his Facebook page.

The concept behind the “I Have the Honour” programme is to link deferment from military service for university students with future service as officers. Participants in the programme are granted deferment from conscription for compulsory military service, with their tuition fees fully reimbursed by the state in the form of student financial support, covering the annual tuition fee set by the relevant institution for their chosen specialisation.

After completing their university studies and military training in accordance with the established procedure, conscripted citizens are awarded the military rank of lieutenant, sign a contract to serve as junior officers and are assigned to posts by lot:

*those training to fill platoon commander positions serve for two years and three months, including the first three months with the status of a conscript serving compulsory military service;

*those training to fill positions requiring a medical specialisation serve for four years after completing their studies and one year of clinical residency commissioned by the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Armenia.