The armed forces of Italy are: Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri; military age: 18 years;
Service life: 10 months;
Party's fighting people (men): 15-49 - 14248674 to 2001;
Party's fighting people (men): in accordance with military service of 15-49 years - 12,244,166 for 2001;
Military labor reserves (reach military age each year): 304,369 people in 2001;
Military expenditures: 20.7 billion dollars, representing 1.7% of GDP.
Italy adopted a law on the abolition of conscription and the establishment of a professional army. Young people born after December 31, 1985, no longer subject to military conscription. "Watershed event" - so emotionally Italian Defense Minister Sergio Mattarella described the decision of the national parliament to abolish conscription by 2007. However, emotions here were quite appropriate. First of all, because it is finally born on the Apennines, the complete professional army, and the millions of young Italians will no longer need to feel contradictory feelings when receiving the infamous agenda of military conscription. Indeed, ends an era, initiated by Napoleon still in 1802. However, if you want an idea of forming the army of conscripts to the principle can be considered an Italian invention, since even for three centuries before Napoleon mnogomudry Niccolo Machiavelli raised her, not believing in the virtue of the Florentine mercenaries.
Formally, the new law refers only to the suspension of conscription, since Article 52 of the Italian Constitution provides that "the protection of the Motherland is the sacred duty of a citizen. Thus, in the event of war or other emergency situation practice recruitment for military service may be resumed. Nevertheless, it is obvious that Rome took a course on creating a professional army, which numbered at the end of 2006 is to make 190 thousand, then there will be reduced to 80 thousand troops. The law provides for a five-year service for the soldiers with the ability to extend the contract twice for two years. May also contract for only one year. It is assumed that, after leaving the ranks of the armed forces, the majority of yesterday's soldiers will be taken to the police, fire brigade, civil protection service. Contract soldiers a month will pay 2 million lire (about 1 thousand dollars), whereas now the rank and file gets only 180 thousand liras. In addition, the reform provides an opportunity for women to occupy almost all positions in all the military branches.