site.btaLand Forces Begin Training for Reservists in Voluntary Reserve

The Fifth Brigade Command in Pleven has initiated training for reservists joining the voluntary reserve on a fixed-term basis, the Ministry of Defence said here on Wednesday. The training will continue until March 10, 2025, and will be conducted in three stages: initial military training, specialized military training, and collective training.

The initial month of military training finishes with a test and the military oath. Following this, trainees will complete two more months of specialized training, which also ends with a test for a military job specialty.

The last stage, which is the group training, will last three months and will also end with a test. During this time, reservists will improve their basic and specialized skills and develop combat abilities for fixed-term service in the voluntary reserve within a mechanized unit. Those who pass the course will get a certificate for their fixed-term service in the voluntary reserve.

Military personnel understaffing has surpassed 20%, highlighting the urgent need for legislative measures to support the reserve and ensure effective training during peacetime. As per the Cabinet-approved 2023 Report on the State of Defence and the Armed Forces, the current allocation of 2% of GDP to defence spending is considered insufficient to address these challenges.