Serve now, study later
In Europe, military service deferral for education is nowhere as limited and complicated as it is in Armenia. Since introducing a 2018 law, deferral for education has become restricted in Armenia. The law established stringent criteria, allowing the postponement of military service for a select few outstanding and academically talented conscripts.
While many conscripts eventually finish their studies at a later stage, some feel less motivated and discouraged to continue their education further in universities and vocational schools. Various segments of Armenian society, including education experts and activists, are calling for revisions to the law.
Like any other Armenian male citizen, I also had to face military service once I got registered at the age of 16. In 2016, I deferred my service since I entered university with a full scholarship. At the time, to obtain a deferral, male students had to score high enough in university entrance exams to be granted full scholarship. Even then, this privilege was not extended to most young men, denying them the opportunity for continuous education. Since 2018, the criteria for deferral have become even more stringent, requiring exceptional academic achievement to defer service.
However, with Russia’s war in Ukraine and growing security challenges in Europe, conscription and enlistment laws will hardly soften in the near future. In addition to European countries like Greece, Austria, Denmark, and Lithuania, which already have mandatory service, other European nations such as Germany, Serbia, and Croatia are discussing the possibility of reintroducing military conscription.
For Armenia’s young men, in particular, the future does not hold many promises, as the country needs to deal with its troubling security challenges with its neighbouring Azerbaijan and be ready for potential escalations.