Against the background of international tensions, Italy now wants to be better equipped for wars and therefore wants to train reservists. This should involve the use of former military personnel, police forces or people with specific skills.
The Italian army is not particularly well prepared for a crisis. Since 2005, it has consisted exclusively of professional soldiers and volunteers. In Italy, compulsory military service (and alternative civilian service) was suspended in July 2005. At the same time, one-year voluntary military service was introduced, but this is a prerequisite for further obligations in the army and for applications to the police, carabinieri and other security authorities.
However, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto is now working on a legislative project to introduce a state aid reserve that will consist of 10,000 people, Italian media reported on Saturday.
Regular training
Consideration is being given to training people who are available to the country as reservists and who would have to undergo regular training. According to the Minister of Defense, the support from the reservists would mainly be of a logistical nature. Reservists must also intervene in disasters, as is already the case with soldiers.
“The establishment of a national reserve for the armed forces, as in Switzerland and Israel, is a goal we are working towards. We will propose a corresponding law in the coming weeks,” Crosetto announced.
Increased participation in peacekeeping missions
In the late 1990s, around 300,000 young men were called up for military service every year. After the introduction of the free choice between military service and community service, this number fell to 250,000 in 2002. However, this force was still considered too large for an efficient army, in which highly qualified training of soldiers was important, the reform’s proponents emphasize. The Italian army currently consists of 180,000 soldiers.
In recent years, Italy has become increasingly involved in peacekeeping missions, including in Kosovo, Lebanon and Afghanistan. About 30,000 military personnel regularly participate in foreign missions.
Source: Krone
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