Professional Soldiers | New contract clarifications – Announcement of new recruitments

Defence Redefined

Published on 27/10/2020 at 10:25

The renewal of the contracts for the 1st Class of Professional Soldiers (SYOP) of the National Guard has started. 

Also read: National Guard | Recruitment of Professional Soldiers to fill vacancies

The new contracts will be for a period of 2 years and two months, purely for accounting purposes. According to information on our page, the MoD wants the contracts to have a duration of 26 months in order to be completed at the end of the calendar year, i.e. in December and not in October.

Also, despite any dissatisfaction, MoD officials have clarified to us that this change in duration does not change the fact that in case the terms are met, the contracts will be renewed for a total of 10 years.

The initial contracts of this Class of Professional Soldiers were signed on November 1, 2016 and were for a period of one (1) year. Then, a 3-year contract was signed with a maximum 10-year renewal potential (1 + 3 + 3 + 3). 

The 1st Class of Professional Soldiers is expected to be promoted to Sergeants (initial rank is that of Private), but beyond that there is concern both for the fact that their complaints are not listened to and for the future uncertainty that prevails. In particular, the main problem they report is the unequal assignment of the night duties they are called to perform with a maximum number of six (6) per month. 

Also read: Regulation of Working Time in Cyprus’ Army | A vision or reality?

It is noted that their initial contracts (2016) provided for eight (8) night duties per month, something that has changed over time. Regarding the uncertainty for the future and especially after the completion of the 10-year contract, this is a constant question of all Professional Soldiers. 

Also read: “Khaki Unionism” in the National Guard | What about Professional Soldiers’ representation?

When asked by our page if there are plans by the Ministry of Defence for the recruitment of Professional Soldiers after the period of 10 years, what we were told is that this is not provided in their contract, but future developments cannot be ruled out. The 10-year contract of the 1st Class of Professional Soldiers will be completed in 2026. 

We remind you that soon, the Ministry of Defence is expected to announce new recruitments, 80 in total, so as to fill the vacancies that arose for various reasons. 

The government’s much-anticipated proposal last September to recruit more SYOPs so as to fill the vacancies arising from the deferral of many conscripts’ military service for study purposes in the UK was ultimately not voted on by the House of Representatives, so the initial deferral plan was overturned.

Also read: Budget for recruitment of Professional soldiers was rejected – No military service deferrals granted to conscripts