ASTANA, October 9 (RIA Novosti) – Kazakhstan plans to switch to a fully professional army by 2016, the country’s defense ministry said Wednesday.
Kazakhstan’s armed forces currently meet their manpower needs on a mixed basis, with 65 percent comprising professional soldiers and the remaining consisting of military conscripts.
The military currently has about 12,000 draftees, but that number will be gradually reduced, said Saken Zhasuzakov, first deputy chief of the General Staff.
“This fall we will dismiss 6,000 and draft 1,500. In the spring of 2014, we will dismiss another 6,000 and draft 1,500. That 1,500 will gradually be reduced to 500,” he said.
“I think the army will be 99 percent professionals by 2016,” Zhasuzakov said.
The country is planning to provide all servicemen with housing by 2017, the ministry said.
More than 7,000 people applied for contract service this year.
Full-time professional soldiers will next be recruited at the beginning of next year.
