In Cuba, mandatory military service reaches adolescents who have not yet reached the age of majority. The law stipulates that males must be incorporated starting January 1 of the year in which they turn 17, a measure that allows the recruitment of minors. The recruitment system is once again under scrutiny following the documentation of at least 89 recruit deaths over the past decade, including accidents, suicides, illnesses, alleged medical negligence, and violent incidents.
Cuban law presents defense as "a duty" of all citizens
The Constitution of Cuba establishes that its citizens must serve and defend the homeland, as well as perform military or social service in accordance with the law. On that basis, Law 75 on National Defense regulates Active Military Service and Reserve Service.
The legal text stipulates that males must fulfill Active Military Service from the year in which they turn 17 until age 28. The general duration set by the regulation is two years, although there are assignments with different timeframes. Women may enter voluntarily.
The legislation provides that young people register with military authorities during the year in which they turn 16. That stage precedes the formal call-up and allows the authorities to organize the recruitment drives, assess the conditions of potential recruits, and assign postings.
The fact that the system reaches 17-year-olds raises a point of concern…
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Cuba's legislation provides for the incorporation of males into Active Military Service starting from the year in which they turn 17. (Photo from the Facebook page of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba)
In Cuba, mandatory military service reaches adolescents who have not yet reached the age of majority. The law stipulates that males must enlist starting January 1 of the year in which they turn 17, a measure that allows the recruitment of minors. The recruitment system is once again under scrutiny following the documentation of at least 89 recruit deaths over the last decade, including accidents, suicides, illnesses, alleged medical negligence, and violent incidents.
The Constitution of Cuba establishes that its citizens must serve and defend the homeland, in addition to performing military or social service in accordance with the law. On that basis, Law 75 on National Defense regulates Active Military Service and Reserve Service. The legal text stipulates that males must fulfill Active Military Service from the year in which they turn 17 until age 28. The general duration set by the regulation is two years, although there are assignments with different timeframes. Women may join voluntarily.
The legislation provides that young men register with military authorities during the year in which they turn 16. That stage precedes the formal call-up and allows the authorities to organize the call-ups, evaluate the conditions of potential recruits, and assign postings.
The fact that the system reaches 17-year-olds raises a point of concern, since these are minors under international child protection standards. The service involves joining military structures and instruction in weapons handling, tactics, marksmanship, and regulations.
A journalistic investigation documented at least 89 recruit deaths in Cuba between 2016 and 2026. (Photo from the Facebook page of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba)
The service does not function as an option for males within the ages covered by the law. In 2024, Decree 103 updated the contraventions related to the fulfillment of military duties. The regulation provides sanctions for those who fail to comply with registration or reporting obligations, as well as for those who obstruct or help evade the service. It also provides for the responsibility of parents or guardians when minors are involved.
The legal framework does not establish broad mechanisms for conscientious objection. That absence has been questioned by human rights organizations and by relatives of young men who refused the military call-up.
Military service instruction includes tactical training with weapons and educational content on the state's political project. (Photo from the Facebook page of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba)
The main official justification is the defense of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security. The Cuban state upholds a doctrine known as the "War of All the People," under which the protection of the country depends not only on the Revolutionary Armed Forces but also on the population's preparation to respond to a potential aggression. Under that model, military service fulfills a training function and the formation of reserves.
After completing the active stage, recruits join a reserve that can be mobilized for defensive preparation activities or in exceptional situations. The authorities also link recruitment to the need to cover the needs of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior. Young men can be sent to military units, custody services, support tasks, or other functions defined by the armed institutions.
The preparation includes military and political content. In official publications, the Government has stated that recruits receive training in tactics, infantry, marksmanship, physical education, national history, Martí thought, and Marxism-Leninism. The system presents this instruction as part of civic education and the continuity of its political project.
The Cuban Constitution establishes the defense of the homeland as a civic duty regulated by the National Defense Law. (Photo from the Facebook page of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba)
A recent investigation published by elTOQUE recorded 89 deaths between 2016 and 2026 and focused on the safety and supervision conditions within Active Military Service. In 65 cases the age of the victims could be determined: the majority were 18 or 19 years old, although a 16-year-old and five 17-year-olds were also listed. The registry included 33 accidents and 31 deaths classified as suicides. It also documented deaths from illnesses, alleged deficiencies in medical care, shootings, explosions, and other violent incidents. Among the cases are four recruits who died during the fire at the Matanzas Supertanker Base in August 2022, and nine who died in the explosions at a military warehouse in Melones, Holguín, in January 2025. Relatives of the victims have demanded explanations about the circumstances of the deaths and more information about the investigations.