More than 600 cadets will be recruited to become military officers, the Ministry of Defence announced yesterday.

Recruits for the 2015-2016 class will be selected from candidates of both sexes, aged 18-25, in good health and with clean criminal records.

Requirements include a high school diploma as well as a minimum height of 1.5 metres for women and 1.6 for men.

Up for grabs are 120 spots for four years of air force officer school, 250 candidacies for four years of ground troop officer training as well as an additional 250 slots for a six-month course at the Cambodian Royal Army Institute.

This follows the recruitment of 1,050 soldiers in October and then another 600 in December 2014.

Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers said the “recruitment is to replace the retired soldiers only”.

Government policy changes aimed at reducing redundancy in the military have resulted in the retirement of 15,000 military officers since 2001.

Additionally, 4,805 officers were retired by the ministry in 2012.

San Chey, of accountability group ANSA-EAP, said this recruitment is “fine as long as the ministry needs the officers”.

“We recommend a clear and transparent recruitment process,” he added.

Neither Defence Minister Tea Banh nor spokesperson Chhum Socheat could be reached.

Applications for new recruits close on November 13.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY ALESSANDRO MARAZZI SASSOON