Estonian Defense Forces reduce conscript intake for one year to focus on training

The Estonian Defense Resources Agency (KRA) announced on Thursday that more than 700 young people, including 32 women, will begin compulsory military service on July 13. KRA Director General Anu Rannaveski noted that recent summer intakes have seen strong interest in military service, and this year would have been the first time all conscripts could have entered service voluntarily. However, due to the gap year, around 1,500 young people were left without a place. Rannaveski said the agency will do its best to find them a suitable new date and be more flexible in calling them up.

This year's reduced intake is intended to provide professional members of the Defense Forces with more extensive advanced training so that they can pass on these new skills to conscripts in the coming years. "In order to prepare for next year's combat readiness and allow professional service members to learn how to use new capabilities, we were able to admit fewer conscripts this summer," Rannaveski explained. Following a highly competitive selection process, preference was given to young people who saw their future as professional soldiers or as officer cadets at the Estonian Military Academy.

From next year, the usual number of conscripts will be admitted again. Those beginning military service in July will receive training with the Cyber Command, Special Operations Command, Artillery Regiment, Division Reconnaissance Battalion, Navy, Military Police Guard Battalion, Division Logistics Battalion, Headquarters and Signal Battalion, the division's 1st and 2nd Infantry Brigades, as well as the Air Force.