APPOINTMENTS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF THE 
EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER RESERVE FORCE ġ S.L.220.07 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 220.07
APPOINTMENTS AND CONDITIONS OF 
SERVICE OF THE EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER 
RESERVE FORCE REGULATIONS
10th March, 1998
LEGAL NOTICE 80 of 1998, as amended by Legal Notices 71 of 2002
and 20 of 2004.
Title .
Conditions of Service of the Emergency Volunteer Reserve Force
Regulations.
Definitions.
requires - 
Cap. 220.
S.L. 220.02
"Commander" means the Commander, Armed Forces of Malta
appointed under the Designation, Command and Establishment of
the Armed Forces of Malta Order, and in his absence or inability to
act includes the Deputy Commander, or any other officer appointed
to act as Commander, appointed under the Order aforesaid;
"determine", in relation to the Minister, means determine by
order or instruction (whether issued by him or under his authority)
or in such other form, as the Minister may deem appropriate;
"force" means the Emergency Volunteer Reserve Force (EVRF);
"recruiting officer" shall be construed in accordance with
regulation 6.
(2) Save as provided in sub-regulation (1), in these Regulations
words and expressions shall have the meaning as they have in the
Act.
PART I
Officers
Appointments, Promotion and Retirements
Commissioning of 
officers.
3. (1) Officers shall be commissioned by the President acting
on the advice of the Minister.
(2) For the purpose of giving advice under this regulation, the
Minister may do or cause to be done any one or more of the
following:
( a ) cause to be advertised in the Gazette any vacancies in
the force it is intended to fill;
( b ) call for applications by prospective candidates for
commissions in the force with a view to obtaining a
commission in the force;
( c ) determine the qualifications and other conditions for
the grant of commissions in the force;
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( d ) determine the qualifications and other conditions for
direct entry into the force as officers and/or the
circumstances in which such direct entry is to take
place;
( e ) determine the rank and seniority in which a person will
be granted a commission;
( f ) distinguish between combatant and non-combatant
officers, and make sure other distinctions as he may
deem proper;
( g ) make such other provision or arrangement for the
selection, appointment and commissioning of officers
in the force as he may deem appropriate.
Appointments, 
promotion and 
retirements.
S.L. 220.03
4. Appointments, promotions and the retirement of officers
shall be authorised by the Minister after consultation with the
Commander, in line with the Appointments and Conditions of
Service of the Regular Force Regulations.
Pay and Allowances
Pay and 
allowances.
5. The scales of pay and allowances for officers and men shall
be such as the Minister may from time to time determine and
announce.
PART II
Men
Enlistment, Service, Promotion, Employment and Discharge
Recruiting officers. 6. Any officer of the Regular Force or of the force authorised
in that behalf by the Commander may enlist recruits in the force
and such officer shall be a recruiting officer for the purpose of the
Act and of these regulations.
Procedure for 
attestation.
7. The procedure for enlisting a person in the force shall be
the following:
( a ) the recruiting officer must first ensure that the person
to be enlisted is in possession of the Notice Paper as in
the Second Schedule, containing the general
conditions of service to be entered into, and that the
person understands it and wishes to be enlisted;
( b ) the recruiting officer shall warn the person to be
enlisted that if he makes any false answer to the
questions to be read out to him he will be liable to be
punished as provided by the Act;
( c ) he shall then read, or cause to be read, to that person
the questions set out in the attestation paper as in the
Third Schedule, and satisfy himself that he
understands each of those questions and that his
answers thereto have been duly recorded in the
attestation paper;
( d ) he shall then ask that person to make and sign the
declaration set out in the attestation paper as to the
truth of the answers and shall administer to him the
APPOINTMENTS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF THE 
EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER RESERVE FORCE ġ S.L.220.07 3
oath of allegiance set out in the attestation paper;
( e ) upon signing the declaration and taking the oath the
said person shall become a man of the force;
( f ) the recruiting officer shall by signature attest, in the
manner required by the attestation paper, that the
requirements of the Act as to the attestation of the
recruit have been carried out and shall deliver the
attestation paper duly dated to the
Officer-in-Charge-Records;
( g ) when the recruit is finally approved for service by the
Commanding Officer of the unit responsible for recruit
training, the officer by whom he is approved shall at
his request furnish him with a certified copy of the
attestation paper.
Selection of 
candidates.
Amended by:
L.N. 71 of 2002.
8. Candidates shall be selected by means of entrance tests and
an interview, to be held in such a manner as the Minister may
determine and must -
( a ) be citizens of Malta;
( b ) be between the age of eighteen and thirty-five years;
( c ) be fit for full employment in the force;
( d ) be certified to possess such minimum medical
standards as the Minister may from time determine.
Initial engagement.
engagement of three years.
Re-engagement.
Substituted by:
L.N. 20 of 2004.
10. (1) Such percentage of personnel enlisted on an initial
engagement under regulation 9 as the Minister may, according to
the exigencies of the service, determine, may be allowed to serve
for further engagements of three years.
Termination of 
engagement.
(2) Nothwithstanding any other provisions of these regulations,
a serving member of the force shall have his or her engagement
terminated on reaching the age of forty-one years.
Purchase of 
discharge.
11. Discharge from the force may be purchased against such
payment as the Minister may from time to time determine.
Promotion.
on efficiency, seniority, qualifications and selection to fill a
vacancy.
Discharge.
any regulations, rules or orders made thereunder, service may be
terminated in the cases and manner hereafter provided: 
( a ) a recruit who has been attested but has not been finally
approved may be rejected and discharged by his
Commanding Officer on any of the following grounds
-
(i) that he is unlikely to become an efficient soldier;
or
(ii) that he is a misfit or an undesirable influence; or
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(iii) that he is likely to bring discredit on the service;
or
(iv) for any other reason in the interest of the
service;
( b ) a man of the force who during his service is convicted
by a civil court of an offence committed before his
enlistment, or is convicted of an offence against article
18 or 66 of the Act, may have his service terminated
by the Commander;
( c ) a man of the force whose retention in the service is
considered undesirable on account of -
(i) inefficiency; or
(ii) persistent petty breaches of discipline
insufficient to warrant discharge for misconduct
under paragraph ( d ); or
(iii) persistent indebtedness which has led to
inefficiency or to indiscipline or to any action by
the man that has repeatedly brought the service
into disrepute,
and in respect of whom the provisions of sub-
regulation (2) have been observed, may have his
service terminated by the Commander;
( d ) a man of the force who during his service has been
sentenced -
(i) by a civil court or a court-martial to
imprisonment;
(ii) by a civil court to detention; or
(iii) by a court-martial to a period of detention which
on confirmation is for twelve months or more,
shall be discharged unless in the opinion of the
Commander his retention is desirable in the interests
of the service;
( e ) a man of the force who has been convicted by a civil
court or by a court-martial of an offence involving -
(i) serious dishonesty or violence; or
(ii) disgraceful conduct of a cruel, indecent or
unnatural kind; or
(iii) contravention of any enactment relating to
dangerous drugs,
but has been awarded a lesser sentence than would
warrant discharge under paragraph ( d ), may be
discharged by the Commander if, on the Commanding
Officer’s recommendation to that effect, he considers
the man’s discharge to be in the interests of the
service.
For the purpose of this paragraph a person who has
been placed on probation or has been discharged
absolutely or conditionally by a civil court shall not be
APPOINTMENTS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF THE 
EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER RESERVE FORCE ġ S.L.220.07 5
deemed to have been convicted;
( f ) a man of the force may be discharged by the
Commanding Officer if he has become medically unfit
for further service and is likely to remain so
permanently, and is so certified in a manner
satisfactory to the Commanding Officer;
( g ) the Commander may permit the termination of service
by a man of the force free of charge at his request on
compassionate grounds;
( h ) a man of the force may be discharged by the
Commander in any case in which the Commander is
satisfied that, in the interest of the service, a man’s
service is no longer required or should be terminated;
( i ) a man of the force shall be discharged on appointment
to a commission in the force.
PART III
Officers and Men
Call Out of Reservers
Call out.
other emergency shall be in terms of articles 32 to 35 of the Act.
Training
Training.
volunteers of the force will be required to undergo training as
follows:
( a ) an annual camp lasting eight days;
( b ) forty training periods of not less than one hour, with
not more than four periods being carried out in any one
day. If a volunteer is unable to attend for any one or
more of the eight days at the annual camp, he will be
obliged to do an extra four training periods for every
camp day missed.
Discipline
Discipline.
IV, V, VI, VII and VIII of the Act during any time or period that
individuals are undergoing their training obligations or are called
out on permanent service in terms of article 32 of the Act.
Leave
Annual leave.
except when called out on permanent service in terms of article 32
of the Act. The regulation applicable to the Regular Force would
then apply.
Compassionate 
leave.
18. (1) Compassionate leave may be granted in any of the
following cases:
( a ) death, imminent death or dangerous illness of spouse,
child, parent or other recorded next of kin;
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( b ) for urgent reasons of an exceptional or personal
nature, when the presence of the individual concerned
is essential to lessen domestic hardship.
(2) Except in extreme urgency, the compassionate
circumstances shall be verified before leave is granted. In cases of
extreme urgency leave may be granted immediately and the
circumstances investigated as soon as possible afterwards.
(3) Authority to grant compassionate leave shall be the
responsibility of the Commanding Officer.
Medical leave. 19. (1) Special medical leave may be authorised by the
Commanding Officer, provided that it is recommended by the
medical officer for periods not exceeding eight days.
(2) Personnel who are unable to report for duty due to illness
shall contact their unit as soon as practicable.
Terminal leave. 20. Members of the force are not entitled to terminal leave.
Documentation. 21. All leave shall be recorded on the individual’s record of
leave.
Medical Facilities
Medical facilities 
for officers and 
men.
22. (1) During the period or periods when undergoing training
obligations, officers and men shall be entitled to free medical
treatment by a medical officer appointed for that purpose, in a
medical centre equipped for that purpose.
(2) Officers and men shall be entitled to hospitalisation without
any charge to them.
(3) Officers and men who are unable to report for duty due to
illness or injury shall be visited by a medical officer during
working hours.
Medical treatment. 23. When members of the force are called out on permanent
service in terms of article 32 of the Act, they will be eligible for all
medical treatment as applicable to members of the Regular Force.
APPOINTMENTS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF THE 
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FIRST SCHEDULE
Oath of Allegiance to be taken by Officer on Commissioning
I ........................... swear/solemnly declare, that I will be faithful
and bear true allegiance to the People and the Republic of Malta
and its Constitution, and that I will, as in duty bound, honestly and
faithfully defend the Republic of Malta against all enemies, and
will observe and obey all orders of the President of Malta and
officers set over me.
................................. ...............................
(Date) (Signature)
The said  ...................................... has taken the oath/solemnly
declared before me at ................ on this ............ day of .............. of
the year .....................
....................................
(Signature and authority of
person administering oath)
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SECOND SCHEDULE
Notice Paper
Notice to be given under article 6(1) of the Malta Armed Forces 
Act to a person offering to enlist in the Emergency Volunteer 
Reserve Force.
This paper sets out the general conditions of the various
enlistments and the questions you will be required to answer before
the officer who will attest you for the Emergency Volunteer
Regular Force.
General conditions of enlistment
1. You must serve for the whole term for which you enlist.
You will have the chance to purchase your discharge during the
early months of your service. The military authorities have the right
to discharge you at any time if your services are no longer required.
Types of enlistment
2. ( a ) You will be enlisted on an initial engagement of three
years.
( b ) At the end of the three years you may be allowed to
re-engage for further three years subject to the quota
for re-engagements existing at the time.
General
3. You may be enlisted into the Emergency Volunteer
Reserve Force if there is a vacancy and you are duly qualified.
While in the Force to which you are appointed you may be posted
from one unit or branch to another.
4. When you have been attested you will be subject to
military law, and you will be required to carry out whatever duties
may be ordered by those in authority over you.
5. No guarantee can be given that you will be employed on
any particular duties.
6. ( a ) If this is your first enlistment in the Emergency
Volunteer Reserve Force you will be entitled to claim
your discharge on payment of a sum not exceeding
fifteen liri, provided that the claim is made after the
expiration of two months and before the expiration of
three months from attestation.
( b ) If you make a claim for discharge during the
appropriate period you will then be discharged with all
convenient speed unless, when you make your claim,
an order has been made ordering soldiers on the
Reserve Force for permanent service. In such a case
your discharge will be deferred for as long as the order
remains in force.
7. You will be liable to forfeit service if you are found guilty
of, or confess to, deserting the service. Such forfeit service will not
count towards the period of service for which you enlisted and
APPOINTMENTS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF THE 
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consequently the date of your discharge, and will alter the dates of
the ends of the periods on which you have a right to terminate your
service, and the dates on which notice should be given.
8. You may be discharged if you make a false answer to any
of the questions at the end of this Paper or because of any other
irregularities concerned with your enlistment.
9. Examples of other grounds on which you may be
discharged before the termination of your engagement by order of
the competent military authority are misconduct, unfitness on
medical grounds or the benefit of the public service.
10. If and when a soldier would otherwise be entitled to be
discharged, he is liable to be proceeded against by court martial, or
is serving a sentence of imprisonment or detention, his discharge
will be postponed. What is said above about entitlement to be
discharged must be read subject to this.
11. If, when you would otherwise become entitled to be
discharged, you are serving with the Force -
( a ) while a state of war exists, or
( b ) while soldiers in the reserve are called out for
permanent service,
you may be retained with the Force for a further period not
exceeding twelve months.
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THIRD SCHEDULE
ATTESTATION PAPER
Army No....................... Nature of Engagement ...................
Emergency Volunteer Reserve Force
General Instruction for completing the Attestation Paper
1. The Recruit will first be given a copy of the Notice Paper.
2. Any alterations in the Attestation Form will be initialled in ink by the
Recruiting officer.
QUESTIONS TO BE PUT TO THE RECRUIT BEFORE ENLISTMENT
Under the provisions of articles 18 and 66 of the Malta Armed Forces Act, if a
person knowingly makes a false answer to any of the questions contained in the
Attestation Paper, he renders himself liable to punishment.
Q. 1 What is your full
name'
( a ) Christian or 
Forename(s)
( b ) Surname
Q. 2. What is your address' Q. 3. What is the date of your birth'
Q. 4. Where were you born' (give 
town and country)
Q. 5. Do you have dual nationality'
Q.  6.  What was the
nationality at birth of:
( a )  yourself' ( c )  your mother' ( e )  your wife'
( b )  your father' ( d )  your paternal grand-
father'
N.I. No.
Father’s name
Q. 7.  Are you single,
married, widowed'
Q. 8.  How many children
are dependent on
you'
Q. 9.  What is your
profession'
APPOINTMENTS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF THE 
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Q. 10. Do you belong to, or have you ever served in the Armed Forces of Malta or
of a Commonwealth Country or disciplined force' If so, state which, and the
periods of service and the reasons for and dates of discharge.
Q.  11.  Have you ever been charged before any civil court with an offence of which
you have not been acquitted (even though you may only have been
absolutely or conditionally discharged, or placed on probation)' If so, give
full particulars of each charge.
Q.  12.  Have you ever been rejected for service in the Armed Forces of Malta or of a
Commonwealth Country or disciplined force' If so, on what grounds'
Q.  13. Do you know the general conditions of the enlistment to be entered into'
Q.  14. Are you willing to serve for three years with the Emergency Volunteer
Reserve Force'
SOLEMN DECLARATION
I, ................................................. do solemnly declare that the above answers made
by me to the above questions are true, and that I am willing to fulfil the engagement
made.
.........................................
(Date)
.........................................
(Signature of Recruit) 
...................................
(Signature of witness)
Note: As soon as the recruit signs the above declaration and swears on oath, he
becomes a soldier of the Reserve Force of the Armed Forces of Malta and
thus subject to military law.
SOLEMN DECLARATION BY RECRUIT ON ATTESTATION
I, ....................................... swear/solemnly declare, that I will be faithful and
bear true allegiance to the People and the Republic of Malta and its Constitution
and that I will, as duty bound, honestly and faithfully defend the Republic of Malta
against all enemies, and will observe and obey all orders of the President of Malta,
and of the officers set over me.
(So help me God)
..................................... ..........................
signature date
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APPOINTMENTS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF THE 
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.
The said ............................... has sworn on oath/solemnly declared before me at
.................. on ...................... of the year ................
.............................
(signature and authority of
person administrating oath)
Religious denomination ................................................
CERTIFICATE OF RECRUITING OFFICER
The Recruit named above was cautioned by me that if he knowingly made any
false answer to any of the questions above he would be liable to be punished as
provided in the Malta Armed Forces Act.
The questions above were then read to the recruit in my presence.
I have taken care that he understands each question, and that his answer to each
question has been duly entered.
I have taken care to see that the Recruit has received a copy of the Notice Paper,
and I am satisfied that he is fully aware of the terms and general conditions of
service on which he has entered.
I am satisfied from the evidence produced or the statements made by the recruit
that he has attained the minimum age for the man’s service.
The said recruit has made and signed the Declaration and taken the Oath/solemn
declaration before me at ............ on this .............. day of ................... of the year
...................
Rank .................................. Appointment ................................
Signature of Recruiting officer ...........................................
CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION
I /We have examined this Recruit in accordance  P U L H E E M S
with current instructions and have assessed him as
follows: 
Date ...............................
Signature of Medical Officer/s .................................
CERTIFICATE OF APPROVING OFFICER
APPOINTMENTS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF THE 
EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER RESERVE FORCE ġ S.L.220.07 13
I CERTIFY that this attestion paper of the above-named recruit is properly
completed and that the required forms relative to his enlistment appear to have been
complied with. I accordingly approve, and appoint him to THE EMERGENCY
VOLUNTEER RESERVE FORCE.
Date .......................... Signature of Recruiting officer ...........................
Place ............................
