Youth military training is conducted outside of military service – also in educational institutions. Previously, students of higher education institutions had military training under a special program for training officers. The military departments in higher education institutions prepared the students for this. In October 2018, with the amendment made to the "Military Duty and Military Service" law, the military training of students under the special program for preparing officers was abolished, and the military departments in higher education institutions were closed. However, elementary military training lessons – the subject "Pre-conscription training of youth" – remain in general education institutions.
Military expert Uzeyir Jafarov stated in an explanation to Medianews.az that the pre-conscription training of youth is a very serious and actual issue: “Recently, President Ilham Aliyev said during a meeting with the residents of Kalbajar that we must always be ready for war because global processes are headed in a direction where it is impossible to know what will happen tomorrow. Yes, indeed, the situation is like this. Our country and state must always be prepared for all kinds of threats and dangers.”
So, does it seem visible or felt that the youth sent to military service acquire sufficient knowledge and skills in this area while in secondary school?
According to U. Jafarov, this was more evident in the past: “It was apparent that young people who came for military service, whether having graduated from secondary or higher education, were somewhat prepared. Unfortunately, now there are shortcomings in this area. One of the main problems is that the lessons are mostly conducted on a theoretical basis. However, we have all kinds of opportunities to organize the practical foundations of pre-conscription training and to strengthen it practically. Our country’s defense industry enterprises have the capacity to equip all our schools with training weapons, training mines, and other necessary equipment. It just requires the responsible officials in education to show initiative. However, they do not seem very enthusiastic about this; they seem lazy and approach elementary military training classes formally.
It should not be thought that young people will anyway learn the necessary skills and knowledge in the army. No, the state has determined the subject of pre-conscription training, and responsible persons must ensure its teaching at an excellent level. The pre-conscription training of youth should be at the highest level. Students should regularly be involved in trainings and exercises, and competitions should be held among them.
These lessons are important not only for boys but also for girls. First of all, through these lessons, our girls should at least learn basic first aid. Secondly, perhaps in the future, some of them may turn to some military field and want to become military personnel or officers. From this point of view, it is important that our ladies also acquire military knowledge and skills as broadly as possible in secondary school.”
U. Jafarov believes that actually there should also be military lessons in vocational secondary and higher education institutions: “Personally, even if not in all universities, at least in leading higher education institutions, I am an advocate for restoring military departments. Such departments can play a very big role in preparing young people for the military.”
Nailə Qasımova,
Medianews.az
