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Georgian Army Will Become Fully Professional In Four Years

January 08, 2013

Georgia's Defense Minister Irakly Alasania says his country's army will become a fully professional force without the need for conscription in four years.

Alasania told journalists in Tbilisi on January 8 that Georgia will gradually stop mandatory conscription.

He said that the length of mandatory army service for conscripts will soon be decreased from 15 months to 12 months.

Eventually, service in the army is expected to be based on contracts only.

About 37,000 soldiers and officers are currently serving in Georgia's armed forces.

Almost 1,600 Georgian combat troops are now deployed in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, making it the largest non-NATO contributor to the international mission in Afghanistan.

Based on reporting by apsny.ge, trend.az, and arminfo.info

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/georgian-army-to- become-fully-professional/24818153.html

Copyright (c) 2013. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.