Half of Kazakhstan army will be made of contract soldiers

Kazakhstan Defense Ministry is not planning to fully switch the military service to contractual basis, Tengrinews.kz reports citing the authority’s press-service. According to the Defense Ministry, around 65 percent of militarymen in Kazakhstan are serving on contractual basis. “This ratio will be maintained in the nearest time,” the press-service states. The authority is also saying that in case of any threats, Kazakhstan Armed Services are ready to resist an aggression, but is not specifying the number of militarymen able to take part in military actions or timing required for their urgent mobilization. Defense Ministry is adding that the authority is paying special attention to professionalism of Kazakhstan army as well as to recruitment in general. Earlier Kazakhstan Defense Minister Adilbek Dzhaksybekov promised to clear Kazakhstan army from ‘blimps’. He personally took part in inspection of a military unit in Almaty and checked physical condition of the officers. Meanwhile, Russian Defense Ministry is going to fully replace the draftees with contract soldiers. According to Head of the General Staff of Russian Armed Forces Nikolai Makarov, every contract soldier will be trained in a military school. By Dmitriy Khegai