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Montevideo, March 28th 2024 - 20:04 UTC

 

 

Chile's armed forces 100 percent voluntary for first time in history

Wednesday, April 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Full article
Pte. Bachelet at a ceremony at the Escuela Militar training academy Pte. Bachelet at a ceremony at the Escuela Militar training academy

Chile's Armed Forces announced Tuesday that the 16,050 new recruits for 2007 were all volunteers. Citing the new recruitment law which provided funding for marketing and better benefits for solders, over 40,000 applications were received for the available spots.

The announcement marked the first time in Chile's history that the country's mandatory draft list of all males over 18 years old was not used. "It's the first time in that the Military Service has been filled with only volunteers," said President Michelle Bachelet at a ceremony at the Escuela Militar training academy in Santiago on Tuesday. "We proposed a goal of a professional, voluntary force, and with this accomplishment, Chile's youth who join the military will see real benefits and rewards for participation." Several of the new benefits allow new recruits to continue schooling while serving, the ability to select where they are posted, and a guaranteed four-year contract as a professional soldier once their initial service is completed. The new recruits filled more than 12,000 spots in the Army, 1,200 spots in the Navy, and 600 in the Air Force. More than 1,000 of the new recruits were women. Roughly 100 countries around the world have mandatory conscription â€" in South America, Argentina is the only country with completely voluntary enrollment. Chile currently requires all men between 18 and 45 years of age to serve, if necessary, in the Army for 12 months, or 24 months in the Navy and Air Force. If drafted, young men may postpone military service if they are enrolled in full-time education and are exempt if they provide a medical certificate declaring them unfit. Additionally, many Chilean men are able to avoid conscription through personal contacts within the military. The end result is that most conscripts are poor, rural youth. Bachelet first began implementing her plans to modernize the Armed Forces in 2004 when she was Defense Minister in the government led by President Ricardo Lagos. By Nathan Crooks The Santiago Times - News about Chile

Categories: Politics, Latin America.

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