The Armenian Parliament has adopted amendments to the Law “On Military Service and the Status of Military Personnel” in the first reading, reducing the duration of mandatory military service to 18 months, APA reports, citing Newsarmenia.
According to the information, under the amendments approved during today's session, the mandatory military service period for rank-and-file personnel will be reduced from the current 24 months to 18 months.
Armenia’s Defense Minister Suren Papikyan stated that the change will enter into force after January 1, 2026, and will apply to conscripts who will be drafted into the Armenian Armed Forces starting from January 7, 2026.
He noted that the reduced service period will not apply to military personnel drafted before that date.
Speaking about ongoing initiatives, Papikyan mentioned the attestation program for servicemen and the “Defender of the Fatherland” program, which currently benefits 4,220 individuals. This figure is expected to increase by approximately one thousand in 2025.
The Ministry of Defense submitted the bill on reducing mandatory service and extending contract-based service for public discussion in September 2025. The draft stated that once the amendments take effect, the costs of organizing mandatory military service will decrease starting from 2028.
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