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SVK MOD introduces National Defence Forces (NDF) as new form of Slovakia's Reserve Forces (RF)

Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic

27.06.2025

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is offering SVK citizens an opportunity to join the National Defence Forces as a new form of Slovakia's Reserve Forces (RF) with voluntary engagement in the defence of the State. The aim of this initiative is to strengthen Slovakia's resilience by getting our citizens ready to deal with crises and emergencies, while providing them with attractive benefits, professional training, and trade-specific skills that can be used in both civilian and professional settings.

Act No. 150/2025 Coll. on certain measures to increase the resistance of the Slovak Republic in the field of defence and security, on conscription, and on amendments and supplements to certain other acts will take effect as of 1 July 2025. This MOD-sponsored legislation will bring changes to the Active Reserves (AR) as they will now be replaced by the National Defence Forces (NDF) under the new arrangements. Depending on the tasks the NDF are to undertake, the legislation sets out the conditions for the inclusion of reservists in the Operational, Standby and Conscription Reserves, with the fundamental principle of voluntariness governing the entire enrolment process.

Speaking today at an MOD press conference on the formation of the National Defence Forces, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kaliňák said: "After several months of work, we are now on the verge of establishing the National Defence Forces. They will primarily be intended for SVK citizens who want to spend some of their free time by increasing the resilience of our State and by helping in crisis situations and areas, and who want to improve their physical fitness levels, learn new skills, and complete various challenges that this new MOD project brings." He continued: "The National Defence Forces are open to everyone from 18 to 55 years of age or in exceptional cases up to 65 years of age, and, in principle, to anyone who is interested in being part of the community that is dedicated to protecting Slovakia."

For further information, potential candidates can follow the guidance notes on the website at www.noska.sk, contact the Call Centres on 0960 960 960, where fifteen operators are available 24/7, or they can get in touch with the Slovak Armed Forces Recruitment Teams based in regional cities and in military units. Those interested can request formal inclusion in one of the three reserve components of the Armed Forces as follows:

• OPERATIONAL RESERVES - whose role is to perform the Armed Forces' operational and crisis resolution tasks,
• STANDBY RESERVES - that mainly support crisis management operations and operations in defence of the State,
• CONSCRIPTION RESERVES - who undertake a one-off 14-day training programme for citizens without prior military experience.

Remuneration packages are available to incentivise and reward the reservists. The Operational and Standby Reserves will carry out training and tasks for 20 days, plus they must be on standby for another 10 days. On meeting the 30 days per year training and service requirement, members of the Operational and Standby Reserves are to receive a payment of €3,000. Compared to them, the Conscription Reserves must undertake training and tasks for at least 14 days to get a half of that amount. In addition, NDF soldiers will be entitled to their Regular counterparts' equivalent of the rank-based gross salary - €1,088 and €653 for members of the Operational and Standby Reserves and members of the Conscription Reserves, respectively.

What's more, everyone can receive an incentive payment of up to €1,686 for their specialist trades or for earning additional qualifications, of up to €3,371 for signing up for additional years of service, and of up to €562 for increasing their physical fitness and readiness levels.

The NDF training programmes will be delivered at three training locations - Turecký Vrch Training Area near Bratislava, Martin, and in the surroundings of Michalovce. Preparations are currently underway for the training of the first intake of reservists, due to start on Turecký Vrch Training Area on 10 July 2025.