Recruits headed to bootcamp on Thursday (July 10) as Slovakia launched a pilot programme for a new National Defence Force.

Trainees were kitted out with uniforms and shown demonstrations of equipment. Recruits aged 18-55 can sign up for 20 days of training per year, plus an additional 10 days on standby. After meeting the 30-day minimum, they receive 3,000 Euros with a range of extra benefits for specialist skills.

One day of the programme, President Peter Pellegrini and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak joined in, donning combat fatigues and helmets.

The programme aims to bolster Slovakia's defensive reserves in the event of invasion or emergencies such as natural disasters.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

TURECKY VRCH, SLOVAKIA (JULY 10, 2025) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. RECRUITS ARRIVING AT TRAINING CAMP IN CIVILIAN CLOTHING

2. RECRUIT SIGNING UP

3. RECRUITS TRYING ON COMBAT FATIGUES

4. STACKS OF UNIFORMS

5. RECRUIT PUTTING ON FATIGUES AND CAP

6. UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION TENT

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Slovak) STUDENT AND NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE PARTICIPANT, JAKUB SLASTAN, 23, SAYING:

"I study international relations and currently I see that the international law on which the world order was supposedly based, is gradually starting to lose relevance. This is up for debate, but I want to be prepared if there is a crisis situation. And it doesn't have to be related to an international conflict, but for example the Hron River overflows in my hometown, Banska Bystrica, I want to be able to help my town."

8. SOLDIERS IN SIGN UP TENT

9. SLOVAK PRESIDENT PETER PELLEGRINI FILLING IN FORMS

10. DEFENCE MINISTER ROBERT KALINAK AND PRESIDENT PELLEGRINI FILLING IN FORMS

11. NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCES EMBLEM ON LECTERN

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Slovak) SLOVAK PRESIDENT, PETER PELLEGRINI, SAYING:

"This is not a camp or a reality show, but I see that it is really prepared in a realistic way, as it will work."

13. PELLEGRINI RECEIVING KIT BAG

14. PELLEGRINI PUTTING ON HELMET

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Slovak) SLOVAK PRESIDENT, PETER PELLEGRINI, SAYING:

"In this way we can show that we want to contribute to the resilience, to the defence and protection of our homeland and to be ready to defend our homeland if necessary, but mainly to be ready to help with the armed forces."

16. PELLEGRINI PUTTING ON UNIFORM AND CAP

17. PELLEGRINI AND KALINAK PUTTING ON BOOTS

18. (SOUNDBITE) (Slovak) COMMANDER OF THE NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCES, COLONEL LADISLAV KISEL, SAYING:

"All trainees will have a classic military regime. Wake up at 5:30, curfew at 9:30 p.m. At 6:00 there will be a normal warm-up for everyone without exception. We believe that with this regime we will really ensure that all members of the training will increase their physical fitness."

19. KALINAK PACKING KIT BAG

20. KALINAK LEAVING TENT