TALLINN. May 4 (Interfax) - The Estonian government decided at a meeting on Thursday to extend the duration of military service for certain categories of drafted service members to 11 from eight months.
"Due to the need to develop new defense capabilities in Estonia, the training of draftees needs to be expanded and modernized. The current duration of draft service for some specialists is no longer consistent with the contemporary training plans," an explanatory note to the government resolution says.
It does not indicate which specialties require training for 11 months of draft service.
Until lately, the duration of draft service in Estonia has normally been eight months except for a number of specialties, which require 11-month service.
Another amendment extends the duration of draft service to 12 from 11 months for those service members who, apart from having to receive more extensive training, are dispatched to garrisons on permanent combat duty.
The number of drafted service members in Estonia remains the same as before, i.e. 4,000.