Croatia begins training of first civil service conscripts

The Croatian Civil Protection Directorate will start training the first cohort of civil service conscripts on 17 August at a newly prepared facility in Jastrebarsko, with additional sites planned in Bizovac and Divulje. So far 56 conscientious‑objection requests have been filed, of which 36 were accepted, and officials expect about 50 conscripts to be available by mid‑July.

The program spans three months and 280 instructional hours divided into three phases: a 70‑hour basic course, specialist training, and a practical exercise phase. Trainees will learn about disaster risk reduction, crisis communication, the 112 emergency system, personal protection and other skills needed for flood response and other climate‑related emergencies. Participants receive equipment, manuals and a stipend of €340 (or €170 for those attached to local government units), with a daily schedule that begins at 06:00.