At a meeting on Thursday, the Estonian government decided to extend the term of conscription to 11 months.
This is reported by the Estonian broadcaster ERR.
According to the current provision, the duration of military service is 8 months. However, in certain specialties that require longer training, the service period is 11 months.
"In connection with the need to develop new defense capabilities in Estonia, the training of conscripts needs to be expanded and modernized, and the current definition of the duration of conscription, based on specialty, no longer corresponds to today's training plans," the government explained.
According to the bill, the list of specific professions requiring 11 months of military service will be abolished, and instead a general principle of 11 months of training will be established for professions that require significant military training or practice.
"As a result, the combat capability of units and the level of training of servicemen will increase, as well as the number of reservists who have undergone special training will increase," the government said.
The second amendment provides from 11 to 12 months of military service for those conscripts who, in addition to obtaining a specialty that requires intensive military training or practice, will be assigned to a military position in a unit of permanent readiness.
