The number of new recruits called up for the Fourth Intake (D’ ESSO) of 2026 is proving to be several times higher than expected, following changes to military service introduced through the Ministry of National Defence’s omnibus bill last January.

Following changes to the military service deferment system, which significantly tightened the rules governing the granting of deferments, the number of new recruits turned out to be several times higher than anticipated, creating a new situation for the Pentagon.

Adding to the situation was the introduction of the option for individuals to enlist voluntarily ahead of their scheduled call-up from the age of 18, further increasing the number of recruits that the New Recruit Training Centers (KEN) would have to accommodate.

Faced with these new circumstances, the Ministry of National Defence has reportedly been making intensive efforts in recent hours to accommodate as many recruits as possible in the Fourth Intake of 2026. Both family planning considerations and recruits’ need to complete their military service as soon as possible, so that they can arrange their other commitments, are being taken into account.

Against this backdrop, military sources commented that “the measures adopted to restrict deferments and allow early enlistment from the age of 18 have been highly successful. As a result, the possibility has arisen that a small number of those scheduled to enlist in November may exceed the existing capacity of the training centers.”

The sources concluded that “contingency plans have been made for this eventuality, and the overwhelming majority of those who submitted requests to terminate their deferments will enlist as scheduled.”