00:02You don't worry about it, it's only for the war.
00:05It's not for the war.
00:07Matko and Adel are taking a guided tour of the Croatian military academy in Zagreb.
00:12At this open day event they're getting an up-close look at life in the military
00:15and the day-to-day work of professional soldiers.
00:18Military service is a hot topic in Croatia right now
00:21because in January young men born in 2007
00:25began receiving their call-up notices for basic military training.
00:28I received a call for military evidence
00:31and I'm waiting for the war to be prepared.
00:34I think it will help with the discipline and the body's ready.
00:38Since I'm everywhere in the war, it's necessary to be represented in that work.
00:46The military training I think is even a commitment
00:49to someone who would have all of a need
00:50to fulfill that knowledge not only to serve the soldiers
00:54but also to protect their lives in the current time.
00:57The Croatian government's plan is that 4,000 young men
01:00will complete their two-month training this year.
01:02According to a survey of 13,000 young men conducted at the time of their registration,
01:07around 65% support the idea of military service.
01:11It's unclear, however, how many will opt to postpone or do civilian service instead.
01:16Reasons to postpone include starting university or a business,
01:20a professional sports career, caring for a family member or the birth of a child.
01:251100 EUR.
01:27Two months of the job.
01:30I will pay attention to you.
01:32It will be your choice.
01:34The Ministry of Defence's social media channels are full of messages and videos
01:39highlighting the benefits of doing military service
01:41and encouraging young people to join the military.
01:44The reintroduction of military service is presented as a campaign
01:48to encourage young people to join voluntarily,
01:51combining obligation with incentives.
01:55This issue, if you look at it in its full capacity,
02:02is maybe even a reason for additional visitation,
02:05if the system becomes really repressive and unpopular.
02:10And this is one of the reasons why a good part of the advertising campaign
02:18is now playing as a thing, as a question of freedom.
02:25There is no freedom.
02:26This is a duty service.
02:28This is not a freedom service.
02:30We've stopped.
02:31Future conscripts at the barracks can expect a 6am wake-up call
02:35and lights out at 10pm.
02:37They will learn basic military skills,
02:39how to handle weapons, first aid and self-defense.
02:43After completing the training,
02:44they can either pursue a career in the military
02:46or remain in the reserve forces until the age of 55.
02:50Adil and Matko have already made up their minds.
02:53After basic training,
02:55they intend to continue and to become professional soldiers.
03:00We are most proud of the love for the country.
03:05because it is an interesting task.
03:07Some of them think it is very stressful.
03:10Some of them think it is very stressful.
03:12Most of them are worried about it,
03:13but they don't understand themselves
03:14because they are not informed
03:15how much it is to contribute to their development,
03:18not only in the physical,
03:20but also in the physical health.
03:22As the first group of young men
03:24since the reintroduction of military service
03:26prepares for basic training,
03:28the Croatian government is investing heavily
03:30in modernizing the armed forces.
03:32Only time will tell
03:34how the reintroduction of mandatory military service
03:37will change the military
03:38and attitudes to it in Croatia.
03:41I believe it will be very much there.
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