Number of available positions for volunteers aged 18-24 doubled – Umerov

The number of available positions for volunteers aged 18-24 has been doubled – from 9 to 18.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced this on Facebook, the Ukrainian News agency reports.

"The "Contract 18-24" project continues to develop. We are expanding opportunities for citizens who want to voluntarily join the defense of Ukraine. We have increased the list of positions available for volunteers. This allows everyone who is ready to join the army to choose the direction where their skills and abilities will be most effective. The number of available positions has been doubled - from 9 to 18," he said.

New positions:

- senior rifleman-service number;

- machine gunner;

- machine gunner-reconnaissance officer;

- senior gunner;

- reconnaissance gunner;

- reconnaissance officer-service number;

- reconnaissance officer-radio operator;

- reconnaissance officer-operator;

- senior reconnaissance officer-rifleman-sniper.

They supplement the list that appeared earlier within the project:

rifleman; senior rifleman; rifleman-sniper; rifleman-medic

assistant grenade launcher; grenade launcher; senior grenade launcher

reconnaissance officer; senior reconnaissance officer.

Umerov noted that currently 16 brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are participating in the "Contract 18–24" project.

"Our goal is to provide more opportunities for soldiers to consciously choose their role, serve effectively and receive decent financial and social support. We are working further – to create a strong, motivated and professional army," the Minister noted.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on April 1, the Cabinet of Ministers extended the "Contract 18-24" project to the National Guard and the State Border Service.

In February, the Ministry of Defense officially launched the "Contract 18-24" project – an initiative for volunteers aged 18-24 who are ready to join the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

The 1-year contract provides for a reward of UAH 1 million, the possibility of a "zero" mortgage, education at state expense, free medical care, in particular, dental prosthetics, the right to travel abroad after a year of service, guaranteed exemption from mobilization for 12 months after the end of the contract.

In April, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa reported that the number of people who signed contracts to join the Defense Forces under the "18-24" program was up to 500, although there were an unusually large number of applications and the Office is investigating the reasons why a person verbally agreed but did not sign a contract.

At the same time, Palisa expressed the opinion that it is too early to assess the success of this program, and the first assessments will take about 4 months.

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