Rabat – The Moroccan Ministry of the Interior and associated administrations are currently reviewing over 130,000 application forms for military service from Moroccan youth aged between 19 and 25 years of age. These forms include 13,000 applications by women.
Administrations are also reviewing 30,000 exemption requests from candidates who submitted application forms but now wish to retract their applications. Despite these withdrawals, the number of applicants for military service far exceeds the annual quota, which the Ministry of Interior set at 10,000 this year, then increased to 15,000.
The Ministry of Interior launched military service recruitment operations on April 9, with forms due by June 7. Under a law passed in February this year, 15,000 Moroccan youth received notifications for compulsory military service, requiring them to sign up through a new online portal.
Read also: Everything You Need to Know About Morocco’s Compulsory Military Service
Potential recruits were also able to submit exemption requests within 20 days of receiving notification of conscription, on the basis of health, family reasons, or study.
Youth who did not receive compulsory service notifications but who nonetheless wished to enrol in the military were also able to sign up via the portal.
The large number of applications, far exceeding conscription numbers, shows that Moroccan youth are interested in participating in military service.
During the year-long program, participants are paid on a monthly basis, between MAD 2,100 ($220.25) and MAD 1,050 ($110.13) depending on their rank. The military also covers housing, food and transport costs for the duration of training.
