Men in Moldova Aged Up to 55 May Be Required to Undergo a 42-day Military Course

If you are over 27 but under 55 and have not completed compulsory military service, you may be required to undergo a military training course lasting up to six weeks starting next year. The draft from the Ministry of Defense of Moldova also provides for training that would include instruction in the use of firearms. The legislative initiative further proposes introducing a new optional subject in high schools: “patriotic education”. According to Europa Libera, the lessons would cover the principles of how the National Army operates, actions to take when detecting enemy drones, and basic firearms handling in case of emergencies. This is the objective pursued by the Ministry of Defense, which has submitted for public consultation a draft law significantly changing the current legislation on citizens’ preparation for national defense, the status of military personnel, and the armed forces reserve system. In the published documents and statements by military representatives, one word appears particularly frequently: “mandatory”. The so-called “basic military training” would become compulsory for all adult men up to 55 years of age who have not previously completed military service. “The Ministry of Defense aims to ensure mandatory military training for all men,” the explanatory note to the draft states. “This form of service will be mandatory, just like compulsory military service and shortened service are today,” said reserve colonel Alexandru Roman in an interview with Radio Europa Libera.