Cambodia Prepares for Military Conscription Implementation, Aiming for Late 2026 Rollout

Cambodia held a meeting to review the preparations for the implementation of military conscription, which is scheduled to begin at the end of 2026. The meeting took place on November 11th at the Kampong Thom Military Region Command. The review focused on the readiness for the implementation of the government's Sub-Decree No. 176 (2026) and the law on military conscription. The meeting was presided over by Major General Som Son, Commander of the Kampong Thom Military Region Command, and attended by Brigadier General Doung Sophea and Brigadier General Oun Phira, representatives of the task forces from the Army Command and the 4th Military Region Command. During the meeting, Lieutenant Colonel Oak Saron, Deputy Chief of Office 1 of the 4th Military Region Command, read out the decision on the assignment of tasks to the task forces of the Army Command and the 4th Military Region Command. These forces are to cooperate with the Kampong Thom Military Region Command to implement the duties related to military conscription as stipulated in the law and Sub-Decree No. 176/2026, each fulfilling their respective roles to achieve success. Brigadier General Doung Sophea, on behalf of the task forces from the Army Command and the 4th Military Region Command, provided an overview of several tasks that need to be urgently carried out by each specialized unit. This includes the review of organizational structures, personnel deployment, and locations for fulfilling the duties related to the implementation of military conscription. Major General Som Son stated that in accordance with the directives from the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Commander of the Army, and the Deputy Commander of the Army, Commander of the 4th Military Region, the Kampong Thom Military Region Command has completed its preparations. This includes adjusting the organizational structure in line with the reforms of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, aiming to strengthen national defense capabilities in the new global context. He also mentioned that several additional task forces have been organized to ensure the successful implementation of the directives from all levels of leadership within the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. Source: AKP Khmer