Bill to give soldiers permanent jobs and raise defense spending

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill proposes a single professional system: soldiers and sailors would join with a three-year temporary commitment, renewable up to six years, and could then access a permanent service relationship just like career military members, if they hold a vocational training degree, have three years of service and are found fit.
2. The career of troops and sailors would be organized in three stages of about twelve years: operational posts in units, then assignments as junior commanders or specialists, and from age 45, logistics and administrative duties. They would move to the reserve at 56.
3. The Tropa y Marinería Law of 2006 would be repealed, ending the long-term commitment, while reserved places in the Civil Guard, National Police and Customs Surveillance Service would be kept, along with internal promotion access to officer and non-commissioned officer corps.
4. Public administration jobs would be reserved for troops and sailors: between 10 and 30 percent of openings in direct-entry civil service exams (a mandatory minimum of 10 percent in the State Administration), at least 50 percent in Defense Ministry bodies, and reserves of 40 percent in the Civil Guard, 10 percent in the National Police and 20 percent in the maritime branch of the Customs Surveillance Service.
5. A provision would be added to the National Defense Law requiring the Government to allocate to National Defense in the State Budgets an annual amount of no less than 2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, on a progressive basis.
6. Measures are included for those leaving the Armed Forces: job placement support, extension of the commitment during temporary disability, pregnancy or childbirth, and transitional rules for current personnel, who could extend their commitment up to six years or become career military, temporarily exempt from the degree requirement.

Who it affects

• Troops and sailors, both current and new recruits: They could access a permanent service relationship and a three-stage career until the reserve at age 56.
• Complement officers (militares de complemento): Those under the old 1999 Law could become career military members if they meet certain requirements.
• People wanting to join the Armed Forces: They would join with a three-year temporary commitment and dual training to earn a vocational degree.
• Foreign nationals with historical ties to Spain: They could join as troops, sailors or complement officers under temporary commitments, and could not renew if they lose legal residence.
• The Government and the State Budgets: They would have to allocate at least 2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product to Defense, progressively.

Words worth knowing

Militar de carrera

A military member with a permanent service relationship, that is, a permanent job in the Armed Forces.

Compromiso de larga duración

A temporary contract with the Armed Forces lasting until age 45, provided for in the law the bill would repeal.

Formación profesional dual

A system combining classroom teaching with on-the-job practice, in this case in military units.

Reservista de especial disponibilidad

A former service member who has finished their commitment but remains linked to the Armed Forces and receives an allowance.

Proposición de ley

A bill introduced by members of Congress. It is not a law until approved by both the Congress and the Senate.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries