Jordan has announced the reactivation of its national military service after a 34-year pause, marking a significant shift in its security and social policy. The decision was publicly unveiled by Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II, who emphasized the program’s role in fostering national identity, enhancing youth preparedness, and reinforcing civic duty. Interpreting Jordan’s strategic posture amid regional instability, especially tension linked to the Gaza conflict. The move signals a renewed emphasis on internal cohesion and institutional resilience.
Government officials have now provided the public with in-depth details. A two-track program will commence with Batch 54, symbolically following the last conscripts of Batch 53 in 1992. The initial cohort includes 6,000 young men born in 2007, all of whom will be 18 by January 1, 2026. They will be assigned through an electronic statistical draw designed to ensure fair, governorate-level representation, with allocations ranging from 300 in smaller areas to 1,500 in Amman.
The program is structured to include both military training and a theoretical component, covering topics like citizenship values, national identity, economic and financial literacy, and labor market awareness. The Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) will directly oversee the initiative, which is explicitly not a vocational training scheme, nor a revival of the earlier “popular army” model.
Importantly, accommodations are built into the program: students and those abroad can defer service, with exemptions available for sole children and medically unfit individuals, in line with legal provisions. Offenders who refuse to serve face penalties ranging from three months to one year in prison, with no alternative sanctions permitted. Although the program starts with 6,000 conscripts in the first year, authorities plan to scale up to around 10,000 recruits annually to enhance training quality and reach broader national participation.
Media reports add that the service will last for three months, with the initial intake receiving a monthly salary of about US $140, and mobile phones prohibited while on military premises. Recruits will retain weekend leave, and the program will exclusively involve men, with expansion contingent on its early performance.
Jordan’s official press statements link the reactivation to a broader vision of youth empowerment, reinforcing values of discipline, responsibility, and patriotism, overseen by a government-executive committee led by the Interior Minister, with budget provisions already allocated from current emergency and 2026 funds. Legal amendments to formalize the changes will be expedited through the legislature.
