According to “Serbian Economist”, the political movement “Students’ List” (Studentska lista) has presented a plan for a large-scale reform of the Serbian Armed Forces. Unlike the plans of Aleksandar Vučić’s former administration, the document does not call for the reinstatement of mandatory military service.
Instead of mass conscription, it proposes developing a professional army, raising salaries for military personnel, modernizing weaponry, and supporting the domestic defense industry.
What are the young people proposing?
The program calls for six months of voluntary service, involving approximately 3,000 people annually.
Conditions:
• Monthly payments starting at 20,000 dinars.
• Service time to count toward work experience.
• The opportunity to join the professional army after training. The organizers expect that 25–30% of volunteers will choose this path.
Voluntary military service already exists in Serbia. The proposal concerns changes to its format and conditions.
Salaries, Benefits, and Mortgages for Military Personnel
The program provides for an increase in base salaries, as well as additional payments for night shifts, on-call duty, and hazardous assignments.
The proposal includes introducing government-backed housing loans for service members at an annual interest rate of 1–2%.
There are also plans to form an active reserve of 3,000 service members on permanent contracts.
Reservists may be called up for service for up to 45 days annually. They are promised a stipend, a field allowance of approximately 5,000 dinars, an additional annual payment or a 5–10% bonus, as well as benefits when seeking employment in the public sector.
New Air Defense System and Factory Modernization
The “Student List” proposes creating an integrated, multi-tiered air defense system, SOVA 24, covering the territory of Serbia.
A separate focus area is the modernization of military aviation, the development of domestic electronics and software, and the re-equipment of defense enterprises.
There are plans to establish a National Center for Military Electronics in collaboration with engineering faculties.
Audit of defense contracts
The program also calls for an independent audit of government procurement, production, and arms exports.
It is proposed to reopen investigations into the deaths of two National Guard soldiers in Topčider in 2004, the crash of a Mi-17 military helicopter in 2015, and other high-profile incidents.
The main difference in the new program is its focus on a professional army rather than the reinstatement of mandatory conscription.
However, the measures presented are, for now, merely political proposals. Their implementation will require corresponding decisions by the authorities and funding from the state budget.
