Six hundred candidates have signed up for the newly formed National Reserve Forces in the first two weeks of recruitment.

Minister of Defense Bogdan Klich said the response has been fairly good, given the present summer holiday period, adding that local recruitment boards have some 10,000 potential candidates with military experience for the service in their personal data files – a number corresponding with the current needs of the National Reserve Forces.

Another 10,000 volunteers are to be accepted next year. The General Staff has also been instructed to prepare special training courses for civilians interested in signing service contracts for a period of 2 to 6 years. The courses are to start this autumn.

Members of the National Reserve Forces will be obliged to undergo supplementary military training at least once a year, for which they are to receive additional remuneration. Their absence from work will be officially excused, while the army shall compensate employers for the temporary job vacancy. (ss/mmj)