The Defense Ministry of Kazakhstan has voiced its worries regarding the high attrition rate of military personnel. Sultan Kamaletdinov, the first deputy defence minister, attributes this issue primarily to the ministry’s lack of funding.
Decline in troop strength
In the last four years, the army has seen an exodus of more than 17,000 troops. The military has recruited 14,000 new personnel to offset these losses, but this number falls short of reversing the adverse effects of this turnover.
Wage disparity as potential deterrent
“The existing wage disparity could potentially serve as a deterrent during times of war, as all troops will be incorporated into the Defense Ministry and will be compensated according to its pay scale,” cautioned the deputy defence minister.
To illustrate, a low-ranking military official under the Ministry of Defense earns a monthly salary of $198, whereas a private soldier in the National Security Committee (KNB, overseeing the Border Service) earns $411. A military captain earns $612, while a counterpart in the Border Service under the KNB earns $826 per month.
Post-Soviet Union challenges
Post the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the Kazakhstani military has been grappling with issues of lower wages and inadequate social support, as pointed out by Kamaletdinov.
Historic participation in U.N. peacekeeping mission
Earlier this year, the parliament of the country sanctioned the deployment of 430 Kazakhstani troops for a U.N. peacekeeping mission. This is a historic moment as it marks Kazakhstan’s inaugural participation in an international peacekeeping mission under its national flag. The Defense Ministry has indicated that the salaries of Kazakhstani peacekeepers would see a threefold increase, in addition to the U.N.'s payment of $1,448.
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