The third cohort of conscripts has begun basic military training in four Croatian barracks, while the Ministry of the Interior and the Civil Protection Directorate have not launched the announced civilian service for conscientious objectors.
On Monday, August 17, 2026, the third cohort of basic military training (BMT) began in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia. The training is taking place in barracks in Knin, Slunj, and Požega, and for the first time also in the Vinkovci barracks "5th Guards Brigade Slavonski Sokolovi." A total of 1,000 conscripts, including 947 men and 53 women, have started the training.
Of that number, 243 candidates volunteered, including 190 men and 53 women. During the call-up in the third intake period, only 1.3 percent of candidates filed conscientious objection. The distribution by location: 300 conscripts are training in Knin, 400 in Požega, 200 in Slunj, and 100 in Vinkovci.
Defense Minister Ivan Anušić emphasized that opening the fourth location in Vinkovci allowed the capacity for one intake period to be increased to 1,000 conscripts. "For the first time, 100 recruits are also training in Vinkovci today, and we continue to increase, generation after generation, the number of those entering the barracks. With 800 conscripts per cohort, we have quickly increased capacity to 1,000 in this cohort that is up for basic military training," Minister Anušić stated.
Capacity has grown gradually: the first cohort had 800 places, the second 900, and the third 1,000. The minister expressed satisfaction with the response from young people, noting that BMT is one of the most successful projects of the Ministry of Defense. "We continue with basic military training; it is one of the most successful projects of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia in recent years, and it has been a complete success," he added. Experiences from previous cohorts show that young people leave the training satisfied, and some see the Croatian Army as an opportunity for a professional career.
Among the first 100 conscripts in Vinkovci are young men from Vukovar-Srijem County. Their motives vary: Tomislav Paljušaj from Bogdanovci came in response to the call, while Luka Trnjar from Privlaka volunteered to try military training and assess whether he wants to pursue a military career. Antonio Macakić from Ivankovo plans to stay in the Croatian Army after BMT, and Leon Cajbert wants to experience the training firsthand and plans to undergo specialist military training. Matej Klišić from Nuštar is also considering continuing a military career.
The Ministry of Defense also shared the first impressions of the conscripts. Leon Cajbert stated: "I don't have any expectations right now; we'll see over time, and I plan to go on to specialist military training afterward." His school friend Antonio Macakić volunteered with the intention of staying in the Croatian Army after BMT.
Although the Civil Protection Directorate announced at the end of June 2026 that civilian service for the first 50 young men would begin on August 17 in Jastrebarsko, this did not happen. The Ministry of the Interior and the Civil Protection Directorate have still not launched civilian training for those who have expressed conscientious objection. According to Obris, there are no indications of where the process has stalled or when civilian service might begin.
