Share Story
AMMAN — Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Momani and Director of Military Media Brig.Gen. Mustafa Hiyari announced on Monday details of the new and phased format of the National Service Programme.
HRH Crown Prince Hussein announced the reactivation of the National Military Service Programme, during a meeting with youth from Irbid Governorate on Sunday.
During the meeting, held at King Abdullah II Gardens in Irbid, the Crown Prince said young Jordanians must be prepared to serve and defend their country, adding that citizens who have participated in national military service understand the importance of this experience, according to a Roayl Court statement.
His Royal Highness noted the importance of the programme in strengthening national identity and young people’s connection to their homeland, noting that serving with the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army builds character and instils discipline.
Momani said the programme aimed at preparing the Kingdom’s youth to take on active roles in national development and to contribute to the country’s progress and safeguard its achievements.
He also emphasised the importance of youth in shaping Jordan’s future, noting that Crown Prince Hussein’s recent meeting with young Jordanians highlighted their role as the largest and most influential segment of society.
Momani said that the prime minister had instructed the development of the programme nearly a year ago and has since monitored its progress through a committee headed by the minister of interior, with membership from all relevant institutions.
He said that the legal amendments required to support the new programme will be presented in the upcoming Cabinet session before being submitted to Parliament for constitutional approval, adding that the government has allocated funding for preparation from this year’s emergency expenditures and will include the programme in the 2026 national budget.
The minister said that the structure of the programme will include two integrated tracks: a military training component led by the Jordanian Armed Forces – Arab Army (JAF), and a theoretical knowledge component delivered by civilian experts in economic, cultural, social, and intellectual fields. “The goal is to provide a comprehensive experience that combines physical discipline with personal and civic development.”
He added that the programme will resume with intake number 54, following the last class before the service was halted in 1992.
In its initial phase, Momani said that the programme will target 6,000 male participants born in 2007, who will have turned 18 by January 1, 2026, distributed across three groups of 2,000.
“They will be selected through an electronic lottery system based on scientific and demographic considerations, ensuring fair distribution across governorates. Each governorate will have 300 participants, with the exception of Amman (1,500), Zarqa (900), and Irbid (900),” he said.
Momani said that the number of conscripts is expected to increase to 10,000 in the near future, with a gradual scale-up planned to eventually accommodate the majority of eligible youth in the coming years.
The programme, he added, will continue on an annual basis and is designed to be flexible in its implementation to accommodate university students and working individuals. “Participation will be recognised as equivalent to 12 academic credit hours at universities.”
He stressed that deferrals will be granted only in limited cases, such as for full-time students or Jordanians abroad, and recruits must enrol once those conditions no longer apply. Failure to enlist carries a prison sentence of three months to one year, with no alternative penalties.
“There will be no exceptions,” Momani emphasised, noting that the Crown Prince had been clear on the principles of fairness and transparency.
“The initiative is more than just a training programme but a national project aimed at producing confident and capable youth who are proud of their identity and committed to serving their country. The programme reflects the state’s belief in the potential of its young citizens and their ability to help shape the nation’s future.”
The minister also addressed regional developments, describing recent remarks by the Israeli prime minister as "reckless" and a reflection of internal political crises within Israel’s far-right coalition. He warned that undermining the two-state solution threatens regional stability and the interests of neighbouring countries.
“Jordan remains committed to building its institutions, strengthening readiness, and addressing all challenges,” Momani concluded.
