More than 1,000 secondary school students begin month-long voluntary military training

More than 1,000 adult secondary school students across the Czech Republic are taking part in this year's second edition of the army's voluntary military training programme. Forty-nine of them reported for duty this morning at the Castle Guard barracks at Prague Castle, where they received their military uniforms and moved into their accommodation.

Over the next four weeks of the summer holidays, participants will undergo basic practical and theoretical military training at several military bases. Upon successful completion of the programme, the students will gain the status of reserve soldiers.

The voluntary military training programme is open to students in the second to fourth years of secondary school who are between 18 and 22 years old. Its aim is to introduce young people to the functioning of the armed forces and provide them with basic military training.