Conscripts in Armenia to receive two-day leave after oath-taking ceremony

The Armenian government on Thursday approved amendments to the Law on Military Service and the Status of Servicemen, introducing changes aimed at improving conditions for both conscripts and officers.

Under the new proposal, conscripted soldiers will be granted mandatory leave every six months. In addition, all conscripts will receive a two-day leave following their military oath-taking ceremony. According to Deputy Defense Minister Hrachya Sargsyan, soldiers engaged in combat duty will now be entitled to 30 days of leave over their two-year service, while non-combat personnel will receive 21 days. This marks a significant increase from the previous 10-day and 15-day leave allowances for regular soldiers and sergeants, respectively.

Another major change targets graduates of military academies appointed as officers within the Ministry of Defense or the National Security Service’s Border Guard Troops. Instead of being provided with service housing, they will now be eligible to purchase residential property through a state-funded mortgage program, with up to 35 million drams (approximately $90,000) covered by the government.