Czech army wants to open up to as many recruits as possible
An upcoming amendment to the decree on medical fitness for active military service, effective September, aims to streamline the process for military enlistment. It will reduce paperwork, simplify entry requirements, and enable the government to mobilize more people quickly in times of crisis or war. But whether or not people are called up will depend on the specific role they apply for.
The Ministry of Defence is set to ease the requirements for joining the army, as the medical examination has previously been a major hurdle for many prospective recruits. Under the new rules, anyone aged 18 to 60 who can handle a firearm and carry a load of five kilograms will be considered medically fit for military service.
Director of the Ministry’s Military Health Section General Michal Baran explains:
"The bottom line is that you have to be able to operate a weapon. We based this on the decree on medical fitness to hold a weapon, and if you meet the requirements, then you can be recognized as fit for military service.
"We will check that the person is medically fit as a soldier, and able to meet the requirements for the specific position according to the decree on occupational health services."
But whether such a person will be called up for service depends on the type of service and the position the person is seeking. This is decided by a post-examination.
While the army will still require applicants for combat positions to be in very good health, people with up to six diopters or a prosthetic limb could now apply for staff, logistics, or IT positions.
"Where we used to strictly insist that there must be some visual acuity in the applicant, we now know that if he is able to operate a weapon, we can take him into service. And that's a good portion of those who will head to the cyber forces. IT people are a typical example of applicants who often have difficulty with their eyesight."
The general denies that the reason for the change in the health decree is the deteriorating health of Czech men and women.
"The application in its original wording dates back to the 1990s. In the meantime, many medical findings and procedures have advanced significantly. It would be foolish to disqualify a number of applicants to join the Czech Army, even though they are fully compensated with the treatment in place."
Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka also spoke about the effort to open the army to as many people as possible at last fall's commanders' assembly.
"We are aware of the problems with the filling of the units. We are also changing the regulations to make the system of medical examinations and classifications more meaningful and in line with real needs. We want to allow people to serve whom we had previously rejected unnecessarily."
The physical examination for future soldiers has not changed yet, although Baran expects adjustments there as well. He said they will focus primarily on performance, load capacity, and endurance.
The amendment also unifies medical requirements for professional soldiers, active reserve members, and other types of military service.
