Georgia to improve its military reserve system

The Georgian Defense Ministry plans to improve its military reserve system by introducing active and mobilization-based reserve services.

Welcoming the proposed changes at today’s cabinet session, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said the new system allows Georgian citizens to find their place in this system so that they will not have to stop their civil activities.

The Ministry of Defence is introducing changes to the reserve system. Recent history has shown that the reserve system needs serious transformation. A powerful reserve system is very important for our country”, Prime Minister Kvirikashvili said.

Thanking Defence Ministry and Minister Levan Izoria for their efforts, Kvirikashvili said Georgia will implement a balanced and needs-based system soon.

According to the proposed changes, the active reserve service will be voluntary and based on up to five-year contracts, which will be considered as work experience. In case of being called up for military service, servicemen will keep his/her civil job and salary.

Voluntary or active reserve service will be divided into three types:

• The reserves of the armed forces will immediately engage the servicemen into the armed forces whenever necessary;
• Territorial reserves will ensure additional military support at various geographic locations;
• The special reserve will deal with innovative challenges like cyber security.

The mobilization-based reserve service will be compulsory and aims at strengthening the military forces.

Those in between the age of 18-60 will be entered into an electronic database and called up for military service whenever necessary.