Austrian Armed Forces to Keep Conscript Service
20 January 2013 -
In a referendum on 20 January, Austrians voted to retain compulsory military service. Nearly 60% voted to keep the draft, 40% favoured a professionalization of the forces.
Six Month Service
After beeing screened and found fit, Austrian male citizens must serve six months in the army or nine months in civilian service. Additionally, all military positions and roles are open to women as well.
Future Tasks
In the future, the about 45,000 strong Austrian armed forces will stay focused on dealing with domestic natural catastrophes such as floods or avalanches, but will also continue to contribute to international peacekeeping missions, especially on the Balkans and the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel.
Images related to this article
The Austrian Armed Forces will continue to rely on conscript service.