The Milli Məclis has approved numerous amendments in their final reading regarding the more effective and long-term use of the knowledge and skills of specialized military personnel in the country's defense, and the improvement of the rules and several norms for the actual military service of warrant officers and midshipmen.
The editorial office reports that a draft law on amendments to the "Regulations on Military Service" and the law "On Military Duty and Military Service" was put up for discussion at today's plenary session of the parliament.
It was noted that according to the relevant provisions of the "Regulations on Military Service" and the law "On Military Duty and Military Service," specifically Article 12, paragraph "g," and Article 38.1.4, the duration of actual military service for all warrant officers and midshipmen in peacetime is set at 5 years. Considering that military personnel who have received education in specialized secondary vocational education institutions preparing military personnel, as well as in analogous secondary vocational education institutions in foreign countries, are specialized professional cadres, the draft proposes to set the duration of actual military service in peacetime for warrant officers and midshipmen who have graduated from specialized secondary vocational education institutions preparing military personnel, as well as from analogous secondary vocational education institutions in foreign countries, to 10 years, in order to utilize their knowledge and skills for a longer period in the country's defense.
In the relevant Articles 26, paragraph "v," and 36.1.3 of the aforementioned laws, the list of persons eligible for acceptance into actual military service as warrant officers and midshipmen includes military reservists up to the age of 40 (excluding officers). The draft proposes to specify the phrase "military reservists up to the age of 40" as "warrant officers and midshipmen in reserve who have not reached the age limit for military service, soldiers, sailors, and sergeants in reserve up to the age of 40."
By Law No. 1074-VIQD dated December 22, 2023, a "Note" section was added to Articles 156 and 41 of the "Regulations on Military Service" and the law "On Military Duty and Military Service," respectively. According to the "Note" section, the duration of full-time education at master's (residency) and doctoral (adjunct) levels in higher education institutions of Azerbaijan and foreign countries during officers' actual military service, as well as additional education for professional development, retraining, internships, and skill enhancement, if it exceeds one year, is not included in the 10-year period for voluntary reserve discharge.
It was emphasized that to ensure officers trained in educational institutions for the Armed Forces contribute more effectively to the Armed Forces with their acquired professions and knowledge, and share their experience with young officers, as well as to strengthen the professional cadre potential by ensuring the long-term service of officers in the country's defense, it is proposed that the duration of full-time undergraduate (basic (base medical) higher education) studies during officers' actual military service also not be included in the 10-year period for voluntary reserve discharge.
Furthermore, according to Article 150 of the "Regulations on Military Service," military personnel can study in higher civilian and secondary vocational education institutions in specializations close to their military specialization or relevant to the nature of their work, as well as in courses (special faculties) under civilian higher education institutions, ministries, and committees, based on official permission. In practice, it is sometimes impossible for military personnel to fulfill their military service duties simultaneously with their studies in civilian higher and secondary vocational education institutions. To prevent this situation, it is proposed to add a new period to the duration of military personnel being on reserve, as stipulated in Article 38.2 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Military Duty and Military Service" - the period of being on reserve due to full-time education (in cases where it is not possible to retain them in their positions) in accordance with Article 150 of the "Regulations on Military Service."
At the same time, in the tables reflected in Articles 172 and 44.1 of the aforementioned laws, the age limits for reserve status for soldiers, sailors, sergeants, warrant officers, and midshipmen are set on the same line. Amendments are proposed to the tables in these articles to set the age limits for reserve status for warrant officers and midshipmen on a separate line, with the age limit for reserve status being 35 years for first-category reserve warrant officers and midshipmen, 45 years for second-category reserve warrant officers and midshipmen, and 55 years for third-category reserve warrant officers and midshipmen.
It was stated that the periods for calling up reservists for military training assemblies are stipulated in Articles 175 and 45.2 of the aforementioned laws, respectively.
According to the proposed amendment, first-category reservists are to be called up for military training assemblies up to ten times, each for a period not exceeding one month. In addition, it is proposed to call up military reservists transferred to the reserve of the relevant executive authority for military training assemblies up to five times, each for a period not exceeding two months.
The draft document was put to a vote after discussions and approved in the third reading.