Luis Muñoz Photography

Compulsory Military Service 3/1995

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Military Service, popularly known as "Mili", was compulsory for all Spanish males from the 18th century until 2001, including the period of the Civil War, during which time men could be called to the front of any side.

This work shows one of the first days of instruction of the third replacement of seamen in 1995 at the CIM (Centro de Instrucción de Marinería) in Cartagena, Murcia, where the recruits received the military instruction necessary for the "swearing of the flag" in formation and military ceremony with civilian public.

After this act, the almost 1000 sailors of that replacement were sent to their destinations, in a supposed lottery, to finish their military instruction. However, most of them would not receive any other training or instruction during this period.