THE SLOVAK Army plans to hire 3,500 new people, which would increase its ratio of professionals to 82 percent, the SITA news wire wrote.
Jaroslav Kuca of the army's personnel management department said that the year 2004 is crucial for the Slovak Army because the volume of those being hired and those departing will be the highest ever.
Over the last three years, 10,405 soldiers and civilian employees have left the Slovak Armed Forces, whereas the number of newly employed staff has only reached 5,259. According to Model 2010 - the reform concept for the Slovak Army - staff will be reduced to 23,373 people, 67 percent of whom will be non-commissioned officers and basic privates.