(Photo: MORH/ T. Brandt)

Croatia’s Ministry of Defence has opened a month-long public consultation on several key regulations needed to launch the country’s new basic military training programme.

Once these rulebooks are adopted, the first invitations for medical examinations of conscripts are expected to be issued at the end of 2025, or no later than January 2026.

The first recruits would then enter training facilities in Knin, Slunj and Požega.

The consultation covers three draft rulebooks: the Regulation on Basic Military Training, the Regulation on Criteria and Procedures for Assessing the Health Capability of Conscripts and Recruits, and the Regulation on Maintaining Military Records and Implementing Military Obligations.

Two-month training with modern skills

Basic military training will last two months and focus on essential soldiering skills. This will include handling personal weapons, the use of modern equipment such as drones, first aid, and the fundamentals of self-defence.

Men born in 2007, and, in exceptional cases, older candidates, will be called up, while voluntary applications will also be possible.

Women are not subject to compulsory service but may join voluntarily.

Medical examinations in public and private clinics

Health assessments and psychological testing will be conducted to determine each candidate’s medical fitness. These examinations will be carried out by occupational health specialists from the Armed Forces’ Medical Centre, as well as state health institutions and authorised private practices.

The Minister of Health will determine which private providers may take part.

Local defence departments will manage the invitations for examinations. Candidates will receive one of three classifications: “fit”, “unfit”, or “unassessed” if a decision cannot be made based on the initial examination.

Those marked as unassessed will be sent for re-evaluation after a period set by a specialist, no shorter than two months and no longer than one year.

All records will be entered into the Armed Forces’ information system and written into each candidate’s military ID.

Attendance at medical and psychological examinations will be obligatory. Anyone unable to attend due to illness or another justified reason must notify their local defence office within three days.

Appearance rules and long hair allowed

Under the proposed rules, daily life and duties during basic training will follow Armed Forces regulations. Recruits must maintain a neat appearance, including orderly hair, beards and moustaches.

Notably, recruits of any gender will not be required to cut their hair for the two-month training period.

Long hair will be permitted but must be neatly tied, not extending beyond the top of the shirt collar, and must not interfere with wearing caps or protective masks.

Pay, benefits and opportunities for recognition

Recruits will receive a salary, reimbursement of public transport costs, full basic and supplementary health insurance, accident insurance, workplace injury insurance, accommodation and meals, as well as military uniforms and sports gear.

Exceptional performance may earn recruits a bonus weekend of leave and the badge for the best recruit of the generation.

Free time outside the training facility will also be allowed in accordance with the training schedule.

(Photo: MORH/ T. Brandt)

Record-keeping and penalties for non-compliance

The third regulation defines how military records are kept, how conscripts are called up, their obligations within the reserve force, compensation rules, and the design of the military ID.

It also sets out procedures for initiating misdemeanour proceedings. These would apply to conscripts who fail to respond to official calls without a justified reason.

As the consultation proceeds, the Ministry aims to finalise the regulatory framework needed to launch Croatia’s renewed system of basic military training.

Links to public consultation

Proposal for a regulation on basic military training

link: https://esavjetovanja.gov.hr/ECon/MainScreen?entityId=32098

Proposal for a regulation on criteria and procedures for assessing the health of recruits and conscripts

link: https://esavjetovanja.gov.hr/ECon/MainScreen?entityId=32100

Proposal for a regulation on the method of keeping records of conscripts and performing military service

link: https://esavjetovanja.gov.hr/ECon/MainScreen?entityId=32101