Manama: Kuwait seems likely to abandon plans to re-introduce mandatory military service, amid concerns about logistics and the cost.
Kuwait daily Al Rai on Thursday reported that top military commanders believe the service would be "too onerous” and would make heavy logistical demands on the army to accommodate the high number of young Kuwaiti men who would be drafted. The insufficiency of adequately-equipped training grounds was also cited.
"A different plan would be to use the funds to recruit young Kuwaitis for careers in the army," one source said. "According to estimates, there are around 23,000 Kuwaiti young men who will go for a military career if a plan to boost current allowances and salaries of the military staff goes through. Such a number would ensure there’s no shortage in the military forces.”
According to the newspaper report, Kuwait's military institution is considering establishing colleges to provide education in technology and electronics.
"The courses will enable military staff to acquire new skills or boost their aptitudes so that they can, after they leave the army, work in the private sector," the source said. "The idea is not to limit the role of military men to the use of weapons, but to contribute, at a later stage, to the development of Kuwaiti society through applying their technical skills."
In April, the Kuwaiti daily Al Siyassah reported that the draft law on mandatory national military service would be "soon" submitted by the government to the parliament for a final decision.
Under the suggested law, Kuwaiti men, aged between 20 and 30, will have to serve between six months and one year in the army. Students, single men and members of the diplomatic corps will be exempted from national service, while handicapped people and those with other disabilities will have to serve in the military administration, Al Siyassah said.
The recruits will receive payment and the amount will be decided by the government and the parliament.
The purpose of the military service is to provide more recruits to defend the country against possible threats.
The new law would supplant a law that was suspended in 2001 by the parliament upon a suggestion by the government.
