The Armenian National Assembly today, at the second reading, debated a Bright Armenia Party (LHP) faction bill that would revise the age limits for contractual military service.

According to current law, the maximum age for contractual military service is 45. In the first reading of the bill, the LHP proposed raising the threshold to 63, but after discussions with the government, it was decided to set an age scale according to military rank.

Thus, the maximum age limit set for junior non-commissioned officers would be 53, 55 for junior officers, 58 for senior officers, 58 for lieutenant colonels, and 63 for colonels.

Deputy Minister of Defense Arman Sargsyan urged MPs to vote in favor of the bill, arguing that the changes were called for following last year’s war in Artsakh.