As youth unemployment nears 50%, can conscription ease Jordan's economic woes?
Jordan is reinstating mandatory military service for young men to address rising youth unemployment, promote national identity, and counter domestic and regional security threats.
For the first time in more than three decades, Jordanian Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II announced that mandatory military service would be reinstated for male citizens.
The crown prince announced on Aug. 17 that the program will begin by drafting thousands of men born in 2007, with those who refuse enlistment facing potential jail time.
In addition to weapons training, the three-month program for new recruits will include lectures on Jordanian citizenship and the job market.
During the 90-day training period, soldiers will receive a monthly stipend of approximately $140 before transitioning to reserve duty status. In 2026, 6,000 Jordanians are scheduled to be conscripted, with annual intake expected to expand to 10,000 participants in subsequent years. The initiative is projected to cost the government approximately $28 million in its first year.
