They Will Become Volunteer Reservists

Lt.-Col. Dr. Gábor Vendrei, the head of the HDF Military Hospital Aptitude Test Institute told us that the applicants had specialized medical check-ups and underwent laboratory, instrumented and physical fitness tests. Based on the overall results of these examinations, they are assigned to the 1st or 2nd categories of operational reservists, or possibly to the 3rd or 4th categories of defence reservists. Category 1 requires the highest standards, because, at a later point, those assigned to it can apply to serve with missions abroad.

Col. Tibor Vanyur, the head of the HDF ACRC said he was satisfied with what he had seen. He told us about the complex tasks of the new organization directed by him, which are currently focusing on the case of volunteer reservists.

“Apart from their registration, we have to do further serious work in concluding the contracts, filling the positions, dealing with potential later modifications and keeping continuous contact. It is important to note that the contracts are not concluded automatically, because it is the manpower needs of the Hungarian Defence Forces that determine the number of personnel employed", he told us. The colonel went on speaking about the group of “titular reservists". For the most part, they will serve in the field of public affairs connecting the Hungarian Defence Forces with the civil sphere, in contrast with the defence and operational reservist who will be ready to deploy on disaster relief missions. Answering a question about the date of reaching the planned manning level of reservists (which is around 8,000), the colonel was unwilling to take a guess, but told us that in his opinion, the reserve would certainly be at full strength until the deadline, which has been set as 2014.

Photo: Gábor Galovtsik

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