Army chief outlines new recruitment programme

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday received a reply letter from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff General Mashal Al Zaben in which he asserted the army's determination to improve its human resources policies and programmes.

King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), on Monday sent a letter to Zaben, directing the army to reconsider its approach to the recruitment and career development of commissioned officers.

His Majesty also urged the military to maintain “the advanced level of professionalism, capabilities and abilities” enjoyed by the members of JAF, saying the new approach is part of “integrated programmes within a comprehensive national strategy”. 

In compliance with the King’s directives, Zaben said the General Command of the army will launch Fursan Al Mustaqbal (knights of the future) which will give university graduates the opportunity to enlist in the army as officers provided that they meet the requirements during an assessment period of five years.

Under the new programme, Zaben said, officers who pass the first stage can enter another five-year period of service in the army in pursuance of the Officer Service Law and related by-laws.

Zaben also said that the programme is designed to improve young people’s skills and qualifications to later work in other sectors inside and outside the Kingdom with discipline, commitment and determination being the major qualities they acquire during their military career.