Defence minister Martin Glvac and labour minister Jan Richter held a joint press conference yesterday to announce the government’s plans to train up the unemployed to deal with emergency situations as part of a reserve civil defence corps.
Overall, the Slovak military is lacking in numbers after the cancellation of compulsory military service a few years ago, so now the idea is to get the unemployed to take part in a voluntary military service project so they can help out in the event of some natural disaster, predominantly flooding.
Labour minister Richter noted that almost one third of the country’s unemployed are under thirty years of age and so the scheme could utilise them perfectly for the objective, which they hope to have financed from EU funding (scheme should cost around EUR 8,000 per participant).
Just now the scheme is voluntary, but with the incentive of about EUR 250 extra on top of the EUR 180 or so they receive in unemployment benefit, it could become very popular. The training would last about six months and the hope is to build up a trained reserve of volunteers who can be mobilised when needed. The news comes as the country is wrestling with its highest unemployment rate in over eight years.
Firstly, the fact Slovakia even has an armed force is laughable. What for? To protect from the Hungarian invaders? Slovakia spends how many millions to keep a couple MiGs flying around? Secondly, I live across from some military offices. I can say outside of getting ready for lunch and smoking breaks, nothing happens there other than squabbles over parking. Really no hope for this muddy hole of a country. Volunteers? Worthless.
Is this scheme for SVK Nationals only? I still have my kit and would love to help whipping the boys into shape – nothing like a full day of battle drills followed by a CFT to sort the men out from the boys!
The artice mentions the shortfall in regular troops – hardly suprising when you look at what very little is offered to potential soldiers. The headlong rush to make “money for friends” especially in the area of accomodation for troops has reduced the incentives to risk life and limb. Most SVK soldiers live “off base” which causes many problems, not the least being the speed at which they can mobilise units. There is little or no application of unit establishments or clearly defined ORBATS with promotion through the ranks subject more to who you know rather than what you know. The overall rank structure is top heavy at every level – captains/ majors and senior NCO’s doing jobs that a corporal / Lance Jack could do etc. There is no defined career path or planning, training is limited by a lack of resources and terms and conditions of service have been attacked by almost every government. Most squadies I have spoken to would leave tomorrow if there were other jobs to move to.
Lol…i can’t resist anymore..after lurking so long. Being a Canadian-Slovak and travelling to slovakia my entire life every year, I can spend 180 euros in one day shopping at tesco let alone my wife in her boutiques in Eurovea. Don’t be fooled, its more like 180 euros each for a family with adult children living at home, maybe even cousins, with probably no mortgage in towns and villages. Hence the brand new “leased” (lower cost) bmw’s and mercedes benz’s parked in their laneway beside the chicken coup. Some (if not most) might even work under the table for their friends “private” business. Slovakia is 2nd to Greece in tax evasion..small and big companies. Anyway..I need to hook up with Figel, see if I can get some very valuable apartment real estate in the old town blava for a couple of 1000 euros…make a killing the next year, what do u think? I hear he is a good man..in church every sunday…Lmao
Yet another good idea totally F*$ked up by people with no idea.
The formation of a Territorial or Volunteer Reserve is a good and cost effective move BUT the problem with the unemployed is that they get jobs and without some sort of employer involvement they are not going to be very happy employing workers who may be called up. The money will without doubt be attractive to some BUT there would have to be some minimum standards set for recruits. My last point is about the reported financial figures – 8K per volunteer but they only get paid 3K a year. Where is the other money “lost”? Presumably the training will be provided by regulars, who are already paid, basic uniform and kit is not going to cost 5k, so I have to agree with George that there seems to be an element of “job creation” in this plan. An effective, well trained volunteer force would be an asset to Slovakia but implementing some half baked social project will result in failure.
Yet another `job creation` scheme …