Military reservists mobilized in times of crisis, what does the bill say?

The Defense Committee of the Chamber of Deputies will begin examining the bill on the establishment of the auxiliary reserve of the State Armed Forces on July 8. This was announced today by the President of the IV Committee, Nino Minardo , during the Bureau of the same Committee.

"We have two bills under consideration - explained Minardo - one signed by me and one by my colleague Graziano, both focused on the issue of the military reserve. This is a topic that we have explored also through comparison with the experiences of other countries. I believe that the time is ripe to start a serious debate on this instrument, considered by many to be indispensable to respond to the strategic needs of our country".

The proposal presented by Minardo provides that reservists be selected exclusively from among discharged Italian citizens who have served as Volunteers in Three-Year Service (VFT) or Volunteers in Initial Service (VFI). In this way, the employment, on a voluntary basis, of personnel already trained and educated by the Armed Forces would be guaranteed, ready to be rapidly mobilized in case of need or urgency.

According to the text, the reserve could be mobilized by the Government in times of conflict or in situations of serious crisis likely to have repercussions on the security of the State, for the defense of national borders, or in the event of a declaration of a state of emergency of national importance by the Council of Ministers.