Military service for Cypriot nationals is to be reduced to 19 months

Mandatory military service will be reduced to 19 months, following Cabinet approval, as part of an effort by the Ministry of Defence to update and reorganise the National Guard.

Defence Minister Costas Papacostas met yesterday with House President Marios Garoyian to discuss reorganisation within the National Guard while also announcing that military service would be reduced for all conscripts enlisting in the army this month and onwards.

“Once the term reduction has been approved,” said Papacostas “conscripts will begin to benefit from the reduction in 2010. Conscripts currently serving in the army will however be required to serve the full 24 months.”