Czechs Plan Sharp Rise in Troop Levels

[jimmy olsen]

That's still pitifully small

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/land/army/2015/04/28/czech-military-conscription-russia-budget-troops-boost/26503963/

Czechs Plan Sharp Rise in Troop Levels


By Jaroslaw Adamowski 11:28 a.m. EDT April 28, 2015

WARSAW — Czech Defense Minister Martin Stropnicky has unveiled plans to expand the Czech Republic's military from the current 16,600 troops to as much as 27,000 by 2025. In addition, the government may revive conscription, reports local daily Mlada fronta DNES.

Stropnicky said both issues are being discussed within a broader debate about the country's military policy, and that a decision could be taken this June.

"We are continuing to discuss the most vital issue, the philosophy of the armed forces, their focus," Stropnicky said.

In March, senior government officials announced that the Czech Defense Ministry was working on a draft bill to restore conscription. By 2025, the Czech armed forces are to have a minimum of 24,000 troops.

Similar to other Eastern European allies, the Czech Republic has responded to the conflict in Ukraine, and Russia's takeover of the Crimean peninsula, with plans to hike military spending. To finance acquisition of new weapons, military equipment and training activities, Prague's defense spending is designed to rise from 41 billion krona (US $1.64 billion) in 2014 to 71.5 billion krona in 2020, according to the Czech Ministry

[Martinus]

Does it really call for a separate thread?

[Martinus]

That's still pitifully small

It would be roughly 0.7 of what the US has, pro rata to population.

[Eddie Teach]

Hard to justify a map with a behemoth Bohemia with that army.

[Martinus]

Hard to justify a map with a behemoth Bohemia with that army.

[Monoriu]

Does it really call for a separate thread?

Next time remember to ask yourself this question when you start yet another gay thread 

[Valmy]

Sure it may seem small but when you are starting with 16.6K it takes time to add that many more. At least to have them trained and equipped for modern warfare.

[Valmy]

It would be roughly 0.7 of what the US has, pro rata to population.

In a shocking development, having a large population can be a military benefit.

[Admiral Yi]

It would be roughly 0.7 of what the US has, pro rata to population.

That doesn't sound right.

[Martinus]

It would be roughly 0.7 of what the US has, pro rata to population.

That doesn't sound right.

According to wikipedia, US has 1.36 million of active military personnel. With 320 million populace, that's roughly 1 solder per 240 citizens or the ratio of military being 0.4% of populace.

If Czech Republic had 27,000 soldiers, then with its 10 million populace it would have 1 soldier per 370 citizens, so a 0.27% ratio.

0.27% is 0.675 of 0.4%, so roughly 0.7.

[Admiral Yi]

OK Marty. 

[Ed Anger]

4 out of 5 dentists agree.

[Martinus]

Admittedly, according to prognoses, Czech population in 2025 would be closer to 11 million. But I would still not call 27,000 active duty soldiers "pitifully small" by comparison to its population.

[KRonn]

Good for them and smart. Yes it's small but they're a small country and will be relying on an alliance with other nations, NATO. Now if the more financially capable Euro nations, those whose military has degraded badly, would start doing the same it would also be a good idea.

[Martinus]

Yeah. If you want to look for "pitifully small", check out Germany (80 million population, 61 thousand troops).

In fact, having checked other countries (for example Belgium - 11 million population, 47 thousand troops or Sweden - less than 10 million population, 20 thousand troops) which I would suspect of slacking on defense spending, it seems that in Europe Germany is singularly the absolutely worst offender.

Hell, Denmark with 5.5 million has 19,000 troops.

It seems like if France, Poland and Denmark banded together, they could partition Germany with little resistance.