How nations recruit and retain soldiers

The new Agnipath scheme for enrolment into the armed forces has generated a lot of debate, given the radical changes being brought in. The new plan will do away with the British era practice of caste and region-based recruitments for certain regiments and is designed to lower the age profile of soldiers.

All recruitments for Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) to be done through the scheme. Soldiers will serve for four years, after which 25% will be enrolled into the regular cadre, based on their performance.

They will have a distinct rank that will distinguish them from regular soldiers. The recruitment age will be between 17.5 and 21 years.


It will help cut the ballooning pension bill that currently stands at Rs 1.19 lakh crore annually. Agniveers who finish four-year service will be given a lumpsum package of Rs 11.71 lakh which will be exempt from tax.

Here is how various nations recruit and retain soldiers.

US
It has a strength of around 14 lakh soldiers and recruitment is on a voluntary basis. Most personnel enrol for four years, which is followed by a four-year reserve duty period where they can be recalled in case the need arises.

Soldiers can opt for full service and are eligible for pension and benefits after serving for 20 years. Soldiers retiring early are eligible for certain allowances and perks on a case by case basis.

CHINA
Recruitment is done on a conscription model with 4.5 lakh conscripts inducted for training every year. Given the large adult male population of the nation, it has 80 lakh people available to meet this requirement every year

Conscripts must serve for two years and are given a basic training of 40 days, followed by specialised training on an individual basis or requirement of the units. An unknown number of soldiers are retained for full service on a selection basis.

Post demobilisation, soldiers are given discounted loans to start their own business and companies that employ them are given tax benefits.

FRANCE
Soldiers are recruited on a contract basis. There are several models for this. Starting from a one-year renewable contract to five-year contracts that are also on a renewable basis. Soldiers are given training for three months and those who serve for over 19 years are eligible for state pension.

RUSSIA
It follows a hybrid model of conscription and contractual service in the armed forces. Conscripts are given one year of training, followed by a year of service and are then put in reserve. Recruitment of soldiers is done from these conscripts. Soldiers are given preferential admissions to universities and have the option of undertaking education in military institutions.

ISRAEL
The country has a conscription system where all adults need to serve in the armed forces. Males must serve for 32 months and women for 24 months. Post this service, they are put in a reserve list and can be recalled for active duty at any point.

Soldiers are given basic training on handling weapons and equipment and are put on operational duty after training at the Brigade level. Up to 10% of them are retained into the armed forces and are given a contract for seven years. Pension is given after serving for a minimum of 12 years.