Article

The Austrian conscription commission, appointed by Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner, is set to present a report advocating for an extension of military service. All three models proposed by the commission suggest increasing the duration of basic military service and militia exercises, alongside an expansion of civil service.

Established in June, the commission includes 23 experts and has produced nearly 50 recommendations. The first model proposes eight months of military service plus 60 days of militia exercises. The second model retains six months of basic service but adds 100 days of militia exercises over 18 months.

The third model, based on the Swiss system, includes four months of military service and 140 days of militia exercises, though this model is not favored. Civil service is expected to be extended to 12 months. The commission advocates for immediate legal reinstatement of mandatory militia exercises, with changes anticipated to begin early next year.