Women can usually choose their conscription unit, agency head says

Women serve across Estonia’s conscript and active-duty forces and generally perform well, and women conscripts can usually choose their unit, Defence Resources Agency head Anu Rannaveski told ERR’s Radio 2.

Rannaveski said about 50 women volunteer for conscription each year, a level of interest that has remained similar during the 13 years women have been able to serve. In some years, half of the women who complete conscription have gone on to active-duty service.

Women serve in all units, including those with higher physical and mental requirements, such as the Special Operations Command, the Engineer Battalion and intelligence units, she said. About 250 women serve in active-duty roles. Rannaveski said women are not limited to support positions and sometimes carry equipment belonging to male conscripts who are less physically capable.

Women can request the unit where they want to serve, and the agency tries to accommodate them. Some units, including the Special Operations Command and Cyber Command, have separate tests, and places are assigned according to the overall ranking, Rannaveski said.

She said the country may find it increasingly difficult to fill its need for conscripts with men alone from 2035 onward. About 8,000 young men currently reach conscription age, but only 4,000 to 5,000 boys were born in each of the past two years. Estonia needs 4,100 conscripts to maintain its wartime reserve, she said.

Men have a national defence obligation until the age of 61 and can be called up for conscription from ages 18 to 27. A health assessment is the first step in the process. For those who fail to attend, the agency can use administrative enforcement measures, including fines and suspension of driving rights until they undergo the assessment. The maximum fine is currently 640 euros and is due to double next year, Rannaveski said.

The next conscription intake is scheduled for February.