Due to the reduction in conscription to the Estonian Defense Forces, only 1,200 young people will be accepted instead of the usual 4,000 conscripts. As a result, about a thousand volunteers will not be able to fulfill their duty to the homeland, writes Postimees.
This year, the number of conscripts will be temporarily reduced to 1,200, which will allow for additional training of career military personnel. “At all levels, to clearly understand and integrate all the lessons we have learned from the ongoing war in Ukraine,” explained Lieutenant General Andrus Merilo, Commander of the Defense Forces. “And even more so the lessons that, in our assessment, will be necessary in the event of the next conflict.”
In 2027, 4,100 young people will again be called up for compulsory service, but somewhat differently than before: the conscription will take place twice a year, in February and August, and the service itself will become 12 months long.
However, the future is bleak – Estonian mothers are increasingly giving birth to fewer future soldiers. Currently, 7,756 young people born in 2006 and 8,100 born in 2007 have reached conscription age. In comparison, only 4,738 boys were born last year.
“About a thousand people we had to tell that they will not be going to service right now. With another thousand, we continue to work, as they expressed a desire to connect their lives more closely with national defense, and now we will assess their health status,” military recruiters reported.
