Shura committee discusses military service for Omani youth

Observer

3 days ago

MUSCAT: The Youth and Human Resources Committee of the Majlis Ash'shura held its fifteenth regular meeting of the second annual session on Wednesday, chaired by Younis bin Ali al Mandhari, chairman of the committee, and attended by Tahir bin Mabkhout al Junaibi, Deputy Chairman of the Majlis Ash'shura.
Members of the committee explored the practical challenges associated with implementing military service, while also emphasising its potential national benefits. These include fostering a sense of belonging, discipline and responsibility among youth, instilling national values and enhancing physical and professional skills.
The committee also discussed incentives and privileges that could make national service an attractive option for young people. In addition, they examined the potential financial and logistical costs of implementing such a programme, including infrastructure requirements, training expenses, administrative and technical preparations and strategies to ensure the programme's sustainability and effectiveness.
The discussions included a review of international experiences in national service. Successful models from various countries were analysed to understand the motivations behind their implementation, the societal and human development benefits achieved and the challenges encountered — providing a valuable opportunity to draw lessons from global best practices while considering the unique context of Omani society.
The committee affirmed that it is in the process of preparing a comprehensive study that examines the social, economic and legislative dimensions of the proposal, with a focus on serving the interests of the nation and its citizens. This study aims to establish a well-structured legislative framework that strikes an effective balance in enhancing national competencies.