A new program called ‘This Is Me’ is being implemented in Armenia for young people who are going to serve on the front line.

In the new program young people will serve in the army for three years instead of two, and will spend seven months at home. At the end of their service, about 5 million drams (about USD 10 000) will be transferred to their account which they will be able to use:

• to buy inexpensive lodgings;
• to found a small enterprise;
• to pay for education.

The Minister of Defense Viguen Sargsyan announced that the program has already started and that several dozen conscripts have already decided to to join.

“Many are asking where the exact sum is indicated – the sum that they will receive, what the conditions are, on what basis the agreement may be annulled and so on. When they find out these details, I am sure that the number of those interested will rise. One needs to take into account that we are conducting this form of conscription for the first time, and I think that if 100 soldiers sign up, it will already be a good initial result for the program. In the next conscription period we will be even better prepared, and will work with recruiting resources from schools,” said the minister.

Young people who do not want to participate in the program will conduct their military service on the currently acting, former model.