Chilean president signs
legislation to
professionalize armed
forces
Chilean President
Michelle Bachelet on
Monday signed
legislation to raise the
professional standard of
the country's armed
forces, an initiative
granting better
conditions to soldiers
while raising the
minimum requirements to
join the army.
The legislation allows
the army to increase
troop numbers by twice
its current size and
significantly reduce
obligatory military
service.
Bachelet said the
legislation's goal is
not to eliminate
military service, but
seeks to motivate
voluntary service.
It also establishes
schools in three
institutions belonging
to the armed forces to
train professional
soldiers.
One of the goals of the
legislation is to grant
better working
conditions for future
professional soldiers
and marines, the
president said.
The Chilean government
said the initiative aims
to motivate people to
perform military duties
voluntarily since it
grants many benefits to
soldiers, including
training and health
care.
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