Czech Army recruiting 1,800 new soldiers this year

The Czech Army is planning to recruit around 1,800 new soldiers this year, according to the army chief-of- staff General Petr Pavel. The general said recruitments of a similar size would continue in the coming years until the army had raised the ranks of its professional soldiers from the present 21,000 to 27,600 which is the optimal number in view of the army’s role and NATO commitments. Petr Pavel said the army has suffered severe budget cuts in the past years due to the former government’s austerity program and some units were drastically undercut. The general stressed that while the Czech Army’s strength lies in its chemical unit and passive surveillance systems the army must maintain a high level of professionalism in all areas.