Our army continues to shrink, bTV reported. Military pilots hardly ever fly, but sailors – they don't float. These are just some of the alarming findings in the report on the state of the Bulgarian army.
The personnel collapse in the army is deepening. Vacancies have increased further to nearly 22%. There is an increase among officers - from 23 to 26%, and among sailors - from 24 to 27 percent. The number of the voluntary reserve is only 16%.
„For a large part of young people, the military profession is unattractive because of the burdens and deprivations, risks, poor working conditions and outdated weaponry”, the report says.
Against the background of fewer and fewer willing to serve, the state buys new weapons. Next year we expect the first F-16 fighters, Stryker combat machines, patrol ships and radars.
„But all this will not lead to an increase in combat capabilities if there were no motivated and knowledgeable, capable military personnel. "People don't want to serve if they have to do it on old systems from the 60s and 70s," explained Yordan Bozhilov, former deputy minister of defense.
Urgent measures are recommended in the Act to prepare the stock in peacetime. In 15 years, the reserve will be completely depleted, the report said. Mandatory military training is discussed.
„I am far from thinking that we should go back to the conscript army, where all young men were obliged to serve. Variants of preparation in the upper classes of the school or universities are good in my opinion”, Bozhilov also said.
Despite the sixth increase in the salaries of the military, they remain uncompetitive in the labor market, the report also says.