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Astana, Aug 9 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Kazakhstan will introduce universal military training for all adult citizens, according to a government decree published Thursday. "The goal of universal military training of citizens is to attract the population to civil defence activities, prepare for necessary contingencies, and build up the armed forces in the period of martial law," the document said. Training will be compulsory for males aged 16 to 60 years, and women between 18 and 45 years who are childless or whose children are older than 10 years. The programme will consist of 25 hours training, with the content depending on participants' place of work, study, and place of residence. The training will include first aid, tactical training (basics of fighting organisation and combat), firearms training, engineering training, military topography, and general military force regulations. Kazakh citizens are already required to serve a mandatory two-year conscription period from the age of 18 in the armed forces, which include a ground force, air defence force, and navy, according to the CIA. During the Soviet period, citizens were also required to undertake civil defence and military training at school. --IANS/RIA Novosti pm/dg
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