Military reservists will be able to choose the unit, position, and length of service: how the motivational contract works
The “Judicial and Legal Newspaper” has already reported that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved Resolution No. 768, which launches a new experimental project. Its main goal is to increase the staffing level of combat military units with motivated personnel.
The state proposes the introduction of additional motivational factors for military reservists, namely a new “Motivational Contract.” This is a special form of military service that combines clear time frames, the right to choose the place of service, and an expanded package of social guarantees. It is an experimental form of contract service that can be applied both to mobilized personnel and volunteers.
Who can conclude a motivational contract?
The circle of persons covered by Resolution No. 768 is quite broad. The project involves:
- Civilian citizens of Ukraine.
- Active servicemen, namely mobilized personnel, contract soldiers, reservists, and conscripted officers.
- Foreigners and stateless persons.
- Special police officers.
The motivational contract provides not only increased monetary compensation but also mandatory direct participation in combat operations. According to Cabinet Resolution No. 768, persons who conclude such a contract must serve in areas of military (combat) operations for at least six months in total during the contract term.
Package of motivational factors
Within the framework of the experiment, the state undertakes obligations that were not previously offered simultaneously to such an extent:
- The ability to choose a specific military unit and official position.
- Payment of a one-time monetary aid after concluding the contract, monthly monetary allowance, and additional “combat” rewards.
- Monetary compensation for housing rent and affordable mortgage lending at 3% per annum throughout the entire service period.
- Retention of the workplace, position, and place of study for the entire service period.
- The right to quota admission to universities funded by the budget after obtaining the UBC status and discharge.
Deferral from mobilization after service
According to the Procedure for implementing the experimental project, military reservists who have served under the motivational contract and were discharged due to its expiration receive the right to deferral from conscription during mobilization.
The duration of such deferral is calculated individually based on several grounds, depending on the type of contract and combat experience.
- Basic deferral of 6 months from the date of discharge is granted to all who successfully completed a motivational contract for 10, 14, or 24 months, as well as veterans who concluded a contract for a term of at least 6 months.
- Bonuses for direct participation in combat operations
- Consideration of previous service experience
- For those who concluded a contract for 10 or 14 months or a contract of 6 months (for veterans): an additional 3 months of deferral is added for every 30 days of direct participation in combat operations.
- For those who concluded a contract for 24 months: an additional 1 month of deferral is added for every 30 days of participation in combat operations.
The experiment provides additional deferral periods for those who already had service experience before signing the motivational contract:
- For service during the full-scale war: persons who concluded a contract for 10 months receive an additional 6 months of deferral for each year of military service served from February 24, 2022, until the day of signing the motivational contract.
- For continuous service before the full-scale invasion: persons who concluded a contract for 10 or 24 months receive 1 month of deferral for each year of continuous service served before February 24, 2022.
Important procedural features
All the above terms are calculated cumulatively based on all grounds for their provision.
For graduates of military universities, the conditions for granting deferral depend on whether they served in positions in combat units included in special lists.
During the entire deferral period, a person may be re-enlisted or called up for military service, but only with their own consent.
Thus, the motivational contract creates a clearly defined deferral period after service, the duration of which is directly proportional to the intensity of combat activity and the overall military service experience.
Unlike mobilization, the motivational contract grants the right to discharge after its term ends. If the serviceman does not wish to continue service, they are subject to discharge due to the expiration of the contract term in accordance with the law.
The possibility to independently choose the military unit and position
This possibility is one of the additional motivational factors of the new experimental contract.
Ukrainian citizens wishing to serve under the motivational contract must submit an application in paper or electronic form. This application must specify:
- the chosen military unit;
- the chosen official position.
The application can be submitted through recruiting platforms, including the electronic cabinet of the conscript, reservist, or directly to recruiting centers, territorial recruitment and social support centers, or personnel units of military units.
Important: it is possible to choose not any unit or position, but only those included in special lists approved by the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard Main Directorate, the Security Service of Ukraine, or other relevant agencies for participation in the experimental project.
If the application is received by the territorial recruitment center or recruiting center, it must be forwarded to the chosen unit within one working day. The military unit conducts an interview with the candidate to clarify intentions.
The unit commander must make a decision on acceptance or refusal within three working days.
In case of refusal, the candidate is sent a notification specifying the exact reason.
Servicemen serving under the motivational contract in units from the experimental list may subsequently be transferred only within the positions and units also included in these lists.
Recall that the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, announced details of the new military contract system, which will provide guaranteed deferral after contract completion. Its duration will depend on the type of contract, previous service length, and the serviceman's participation in combat operations.
The Ministry of Defense also revealed details of the new monetary allowance system for servicemen and the introduction of three types of contracts.
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