Information on military service cards in Colombia was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

1. Military service cards

According to law 48 of 1993, which governs military recruitment and mobilization in Colombia, the [translation] "reservist card" (tarjeta de reservista) is the document that demonstrates that the carrier has [translation] "defined their military situation" (Colombia 1993, art. 30). For further information on the process to define the military situation of a Colombian citizen, consult Response to Information Request COL104533.

According to the law, a [translation] "military certificate" (cédula militar), not a reservist card, is provided to the officers and non-commissioned officers of the Armed Forces who are in active service, who are retired and who are in the reserves (ibid., art. 35). National Police officers and non-commissioned officers in active service receive a [translation] "certificate of police identity" (cédula de identidad policial) instead of a reservist card (ibid.). Students at the training schools for officers, non-commissioned officers, soldiers, naval apprentices, land troops and police officers receive a military or police identity card that replaces the reservist card while they are at school (ibid.).

No information could be found on the details listed on military certificates among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints.

2. Reservist classes

According to law 48, all Colombian males are considered reservists from the point when they define their military situation, until they reach 50 years old (Colombia 1993, art. 49).

First class reservists include:

• Colombian males who have undertaken military service;
• Students in military colleges training to become officers and non-commissioned officers who have completed at least one year of study;
• Colombians who can demonstrate that they have performed military service in a state with which Colombia has an agreement on the performance of such a service;
• Students who have undertaken military training in colleges or secondary institutions accredited by the Ministry of National Defence (Ministerio de Defensa Nacional);
• Students who have completed at least one year of studies in the National Police training schools for officers and non-commissioned officers and who performed their service in the police;
• Officers who have performed at least two years of service in the police corps (ibid., art. 50).

Second class reservists are Colombian males who have not performed military service either because of [translation] "insufficient capacity to accommodate them" or because they have been granted an exemption under the law (ibid., art. 51).

Honorary reservists (reservistas de honor) include:

• Members of the Armed Forces and of the National Police who were injured in combat or following enemy actions and who have lost 25 percent or more of their [translation] "psycho-physical capacity";
• Those who received certain military decorations for heroic actions (ibid., art. 52).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

Colombia. 1993. Ley 48 de 1993 (Marzo 3): Por la cual se reglamenta el servicio de reclutamiento y movilización. [Accessed 31 July 2013]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Representatives of the Embassy of Colombia in Ottawa and in Washington were unable to provide information. Attempts to contact a representative of the Jefatura de Reclutamiento, Ejército Nacional, in Colombia, were unsuccessful.

Internet sites, including: Colombia – Ejército Nacional, Gobierno en ligno; Jane's Intelligence Review; Keesing's Document Checker.