Astana, 24 October. The Ministry of Defence announced the start of the military reform and described the new two-stage conscript service: in the first six months, recruits at training centres will be able to study languages, work with artificial intelligence and learn civilian trades alongside military skills, the ministry said.
According to the ministry, the reform will cover the army's structure, its command system, troop training, the terms of service and the protection of service members' rights. "The Head of State has set the task of building a modern, mobile and technologically advanced army, with particular attention to the safety of military service, the culture of command and the efficient use of state resources," the Defence Ministry's statement said. The structure and composition of the Armed Forces, defence planning, mobilisation readiness and the reserve system will all be reviewed.
The main change for conscripts is the two-stage service. For the first six months, recruits of each call-up will train at training centres: adapting to service, acquiring basic military knowledge and building up their physical fitness. There, the ministry specified, soldiers will be offered languages, work with AI and civilian trades that are in demand. For the second six months they will serve in military units as part of their sub-units. Some elements of this model have already been tested in the Sarbaz+ project, and a pilot launch of the two-stage service is planned for 2027.
To protect soldiers' rights, an institution of military advisers will be created who will not report to unit commanders: they are meant to help identify violations and defend service members' legitimate interests. The ministry lists good food and uniforms and the repair of barracks, training facilities and firing ranges among its priorities.
From 2027 a single system of military and patriotic training for young people, Zhas Aibyn, will start work, merging three stages: Zhas Kyran, Zhas Ulan and Zhas Sarbaz. Schools will teach safe behaviour, first aid and how to act in emergencies; together with local administrations, basic military training and the network of military schools will continue to be developed.
The Defence Ministry intends to carry out the plan's organisational measures by the end of the year and its main changes in the medium term. The statement does not say how much the reform will cost or how many training centres will be needed.
What it means: The Security Council's decision has passed to the body that must carry it out. The ministry has specified that six months at a training centre should give a soldier civilian as well as military skills, and that conscripts' rights will be defended by people outside the chain of command.
Who benefits: Conscripts and their families are promised six months of training before joining a unit, a civilian trade and an independent adviser. The army gets soldiers who arrive at their units already trained. The ministry has not named the cost of the reform.
Background: The Security Council approved the military reform plan on 21 October at a meeting chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The overall term of conscript service remains 12 months. The reform followed the deaths of 14 service members during an exercise on the Caspian Sea on 24 September and a change of defence minister.
We have also reported that the Security Council approved the military reform plan and split conscript service into two stages.
