The mandatory military service will be replaced by contract-based service and the National Army will become a professional, well-equipped army able to more efficiently perform its duties, IPN reports, with reference to the program “Professional Army 2018-2021” that was approved by the Cabinet.

The process of transforming the National Army will center on two aspects of major importance – improvement of the quality of human resources and restructuring of the army so as to transform this into an attractive employer for military men and civilians.

The switching over to contract military service will take place in stages, during 2018-2021. This way the number of young people recruited to do the military service will decrease gradually up to the full elimination of the mandatory service. The vacancies in units will be filled by employing service members. The military infrastructure will be modernized by renovating and erecting administrative buildings, barracks and sports complexes. To increase the motivation level, the remuneration system in the army will be reviewed and the social package will be improved.

Complementarily, the professionalization of the army will contribute to intensifying cooperation with the armed forces of other states and to extending Moldova’s participation in international peacekeeping missions.

The program “Professional Army 2018-2021” will serve as the main mechanism for implementing the initial phase of the defense reform that is defined in the National Defense Strategy and the Military Strategy. The implementation costs will be covered with state budget funds and funds provided by the development partners.