By Mg Dagon / MPA
Despite announcing an earthquake emergency, Myanmar’s military junta began conscription training for Batch 12 on Monday, enrolling new recruits at military training schools across regional command centers.
The emergency period, declared in response to the devastating March 28 earthquake, was scheduled to last until April 22.
Nonetheless, the junta proceeded with its conscription program, mirroring the structure of previous training cycles.
According to military-controlled media and Telegram channels, training sessions for Batch 12 began at several facilities, including: The KengTung local training school under the Triangle Region Command, the Military Computer and Technological Institute in Hopong Township under the Eastern Command, No. 1 Military Advanced Training School under the Yangon Command, and No. 6 Military Basic Training School under the South-Western Command.
Just days before the earthquake, large-scale conscription was carried out in Mandalay using a ward-by-ward lottery system—an effort widely documented on social media. However, residents report that conscription activity has since slowed in the city.
“It’s been quiet since the earthquake. We haven’t heard anything. I think they’ve lost focus, but I doubt it’s over,” a woman from Mandalay said.
In other regions, including Yangon and Southern Shan State, recruitment efforts have also stalled—possibly due to the earthquake and the Thingyan New Year festival.
“We haven’t heard anything. It’s probably the earthquake and Thingyan. But we’re still worried,” said the wife of a young man in Yangon who received a conscription notice.
A woman from Taunggyi added, “It’s quiet here, too. A few people we know fled when their names came up. Some paid money. One guy with a lot of money didn’t even run—he just keeps moving around.”
Despite the lull, eligible individuals and their families remain anxious that the conscription campaign will resume once the earthquake response stabilizes.
The junta enacted the People’s Military Service Law—originally introduced in 2010 by the former military regime under Senior General Than Shwe—on February 10, 2024. The regime unilaterally passed by-laws for the law on Jan. 23, 2025.
Military training under this law began in April 2024. Batch 12 is the latest group to be called up, following Batch 9, which has already completed training.
