First paid military trainings kick off in Atyrau

The first paid monthly military trainings have kicked off in Atyrau, KazTAG reports. “The first group has already been formed and will start a Rifleman Course. Upon completion of the training the students will take tests and get a certificate and a record in their military book. No military ranks are going to be awarded. The training costs 210 thousand tenge ($1,400),” head of the contract militarymen enrollment and call-in department of Atyrau oblast Defense Department Rashid Naurzbekov said. He explained that the training is based on the law On Military Service and Status of Militarymen. “Kazakhstan citizens aged 22 to 27 fit for military service and those with physically restricted status are eligible for the paid programs for reserve militarymen,” Naurzbekov said. According to him, the students will live in barracks for 24 days and get marching, physical and weapons trainings. They will also train to drive military vehicles. 30 people will be trained every month. According to deputy head of Atyrau Defense Department Aslan Mukhambetaliyev, the number of people willing to become professional militarymen is constantly decreasing in Atyrau oblast. “For example, 8 guys from Atyrau entered Kazakhstan military schools in 2012, while much more young people from other regions did so: 100 from South-Kazakhstan, 90 from East-Kazakhstan and 56 from Aktobe oblasts,” Mukhambetaliyev said.