Army, Labor ministry sign memo for reintroduction of mandatory military service
Alshaheen News
Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Wednesday oversaw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and the Ministry of Labor for the reinstitution of the mandatory military service, known as “Banner Service”.
Under the agreement signed at the prime ministry, the army and the ministry of labor will draw up a plan for the gradual implementation of the military service program, which will only target males in the 25-29 age group, who are neither students or outside of the country or breadwinners.
The service will last for 12 months during which the conscripts will receive a monthly salary of JD100 and a 3-month military training before they receive professional and technical training in various domains.
In remarks at the signing ceremony, Razzaz said: “Today, we kick off a national project close to the heart of every Jordanian, which is the Banner Service, in partnership with the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, the school of patriotism, belonging and discipline.”
He added: “Our youth and human resources are our most valuable asset, and we cannot stand idly by before the increase in unemployment numbers, which is a global phenomenon that is worsening in light of the continuing coronavirus pandemic.”
The prime minister emphasized that the new military program will include a military training stage, which “will help strengthen the national identity of youth, and promote a culture of discipline and commitment”, indicating that the other phases of the program will include professional, technical and digital training.
Earlier in the week, Razzaz announced that his government will gradually reinstate mandatory military service (also known as Banner Service) in a bid to address poverty and unemployment and invest in youth potentials.
“The government will gradually reintroduce the “Banner Service” in a new form and format different from previous years,” Razzaz said in a Sunday televised message to the nation.
//Petra//
