Tunisian army offers recruitment bonus

Unemployed graduates can now earn additional income by joining the Tunisian army.

By Monia Ghanmi for Magharebia in Tunis – 16/06/11

Military recruits in Tunisia are about to make more money. Effective this July, the Tunisian defense ministry will provide a monthly grant of 200 dinars (100 euros) for recruits with a degree and 100 dinars for those without. It will disperse the money throughout the time served, not exceeding two years.

The grant aims to further encourage young Tunisians to join the military to perform their national duty in order to reinforce and strengthen the ranks of the Tunisian army, Brigadier-General Mokhtar Ben Naceur told Magharebia.

He said turnout doubled after the issuance of the monthly grant on May 25th. According to the general, those seeking to join numbered between 2,500 and 3,000 during the period from June 1st through June 9th.

Authorities hope the bonus will encourage Tunisian youth, especially those who are unemployed, to come to military institutions to do their national duty to help guarantee the country's security. Observers have said that the revolution and recent regional turmoil revealed that the number of military personnel was insufficient to protect Tunisians.

Tunisia's conscription law specifies 20 years as the legal age for military service, but a number of young people below the legal age have expressed desire to take advantage of training provided by the military. Young people who aren't old enough to serve may join with permission from their guardian and the defense minister.

Ben Naceur noted that the government received several applications that do not meet the legal requirements, particularly with regard to the age. The general added that these applications would be considered along with fulfilling the desires of applicants to join the military. The army was held in high regard in the days after the revolution for refusing to fire on protesters and for safeguarding citizens.

Ayoub Louati plans to enlist after completing his studies. He said he rejected military service in previous years but now hopes that training will enhance his job prospects.

"It is something encouraging and positive that will enable many young Tunisians, especially those holding degrees, to receive useful training and respectable material compensation that will get them out of the unemployment situation, especially after the decline in employment opportunities," Louati added.

Military service has become one of the basic standards in the employment process, according to Akrem Sahloul. He explained that many institutions and private companies require military experience for young people wishing to get a job because of its positive impact on the rest of their career.

"The Tunisian army today needs us – the young educated," Sahloul said. "And with provision of these sources of encouragement and financial incentives, we will not find anything better than joining this noble institution, because military service ultimately aims to prepare young people to defend the homeland and to take responsibility and contribute to peace in the world."

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2011/06/16/feature-03.