About a hundred conscripts are serving under contract in the Belarusian army

Amendments to the Law "On Military Duty and Military Service" were introduced a year ago. Previously, in Belarus, only those who had served as conscripts for at least six months could serve under contract. Now, conscripts have a choice: if they have a specialty needed by the army, they can immediately undergo selection for contract service. This means living at home or in a dormitory and receiving a salary. However, the service term is two years, not one and a half or one year, as for university graduates.

The selection mechanism was approved in March 2014, clarified Colonel Vladimir Makarov, Head of the Information Department – Press Secretary of the Main Directorate for Ideological Work of the Ministry of Defense:

– With the aim of increasing the number of contract soldiers in the country, conscripts (i.e., male citizens of conscription age not in the reserve) have been allowed for the first time to be enlisted for military service in positions of soldiers and sergeants. To date, about one hundred people are serving in the Armed Forces in this capacity.

For example, in the 228th Special Radio-Electronic Warfare Regiment, stationed in Polotsk, nine conscripts signed contracts within a year, two of whom are pursuing higher education through correspondence courses. The servicemen are serving as privates, with a salary of about 5 million rubles.

An important point: in case of a gross offense or serious disciplinary violation, such servicemen are immediately transferred to active service and, regardless of how much time is left until the end of their contract – even two days – they start from scratch. That is, they serve the full term.

The army needs signal operators, drivers (especially with category "C"), electricians, fitters, crane operators, welders, medical instructors, and musicians. If you have a suitable specialty, good health, physical fitness, and have never been convicted, contact your district military commissariat at your place of registration.

Olga Kruchenkova, SB Belarus Segodnya