The recruitment of reservists into the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) seeks to professionalise the military, says RDF Spokesperson Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga.

Rwivanga said this on Friday, August 16, at a press conference held a day after the RDF announced the first-ever recruitment of reservists.

The Reserve Force is one of four branches for the RDF. Recruitment will begin on August 19.

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"The concept of Reserve Force is not new. However, we have expanded the concept,” said Rwivanga, adding that the Reserve Force will be made up of operational reservists, re-enforcement reservists and strategic reservists.

"We want to professionalise the military,” he said.

"We are giving an opportunity to Rwandans both within the country and in the diaspora to be able to offer their service in the protection of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of the Republic of Rwanda," he added.

Operational reservists, he said, are those aged between 18 and 25. Other people with special skills, such as specialist doctors, aged up to 28 could be allowed to join as operational reservists.

Re-enforcement reservists are those who have retired from the RDF active duty.

"For instance,” Rwivanga noted, "if you are colonel, and you have retired at 55, you automatically become a re-enforcement reservist for a period of five years.”

He explained that strategic reservists are specialists, such as doctors and engineers, people with special skills, education and experience in specific fields that are required in the military.

"We have an opportunity for such people to join the army as reservists, and they will be called upon whenever they are needed, on a temporary and, if need be, on a permanent basis,” he said, adding that there will be no age limit for strategic reservists.

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Col Lambert Sendegeya, the chief of RDF personnel, said reservists will be remunerated and have access to medical treatment, among other benefits given to active soldiers, while they are active.

He said the reservists, who are called when they are needed, will still be able to get jobs elsewhere.

After passing the test, the recruits will attend a six-month training at the RDF Combat Training Centre, Gabiro.

"After the training, they will have to serve at least 18 months in the military before they can be allowed to return to civilian life,” Sendegeya noted.

"Reservists have the right not to lose their regular jobs when they have been called for training or military service,” he said.

The applicants must be Rwandan, with healthy lives and willing to join the RDF.

They must not have been definitely sentenced by courts of law or blacklisted from public service.

They must exhibit good, acceptable conduct.