First 5,000 military-service candidates called for health checks
Being called for screening does not mean a candidate has been finally accepted.
Tuesday 3 November · 18:01 · 1 min read
In 30 seconds
- The first 5,000 candidates are due for fitness and medical examinations on November 4. [2][3][4][5]
- The Defence Ministry said 15,000 people had registered, against a 2026 recruitment target of 10,000. [2][3]
- Candidates must pass the examinations; further recruitment rounds are planned to meet the annual target. [2][3]
What happened
The Ministry of National Defence called 5,000 candidates from the first phase of military conscription for fitness and medical examinations on November 4. Spokesperson Maly Socheata said being on the list did not mean they had been finally accepted; the examinations would check whether they meet the requirements for training. The ministry said 15,000 people had registered, while the 2026 target is to recruit 10,000 citizens aged 18 to 25 for 24 months of service.
Why it matters
Applicants should not treat the initial list as final acceptance: health and fitness checks still determine eligibility. The ministry says more rounds will follow for the remaining places in the 2026 target.
Background
The government plan is to recruit 10,000 people aged 18 to 25 for 24 months of military service in 2026. The first group is assigned to eight training locations, and the first three months of basic training are residential with no leave, according to the reports.
Key terms
- Military conscription
- A system for selecting people to serve in the military for a set period.
- Initial intake
- The first group processed under a recruitment plan.
Timeline
- Early October 2026 Applications opened through local military police bases and online.
- November 3, 2026 The Defence Ministry spokesperson said 15,000 people had registered and the first 5,000 were called for checks.
- November 4, 2026 The first 5,000 candidates were scheduled for fitness and medical examinations.
Sources (5)
[1] Fresh News ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ឯក ម៉ាលី សុជាតា៖ ការចុះឈ្មោះចូលរួមបំពេញកាតព្វកិច្ចយោធាយ៉ាងផុលផុសរបស់យុវជន សបញ្ជាក់ពីខឿនការពារជាតិដ៏រឹងមាំ មិនអាចបំបែកបានរបស់ប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា 3 Nov Read original [2] The Phnom Penh Post 15,000 step forward for military service; first 5,000 prepare for health checks 3 Nov Read original [3] Post Khmer អ្នកស្ម័គ្រចិត្តកាតព្វកិច្ចយោធាមានដល់ ១៥ ០០០នាក់ ខណៈបេក្ខជន ៥ ០០០នាក់ដំបូងត្រៀមពិនិត្យសុខភាព 3 Nov Read original [4] Khmer Times ក្រសួងការពារជាតិកោះហៅបេក្ខជននាក់ពិនិត្យកាយសម្បទាមុនចូលបំពេញកាតព្វកិច្ចយោធា 3 Nov Read original [5] Khmer Times First 5,000 military recruits to undergo fitness test 3 Nov Read originalWas this explainer clear?
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