A young Cuban soldier, part of the honor guard tasked with guarding the remains of Cuba's National Hero, José Martí, required assistance on Tuesday after fainting while on duty at the Santa Ifigenia Heritage Cemetery in Santiago de Cuba. Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta reported the incident on his Facebook profile, highlighting how the soldier needed help after collapsing during the guard change ceremony at the cemetery.
The video shared by Mayeta vividly shows the moment the young soldier was carried away from the front of the José Martí Mausoleum to the cemetery's administrative buildings. Commenters noted that those serving in the honor guard endure long hours standing, even in rotating shifts, which can be exhausting.
While some attributed the fainting to inadequate nourishment, others pointed out that if any group receives good nutrition, it is those tasked with guarding the remains of the Apostle. Rolo Cabrera, who claimed to have been in the same unit as these young men, commented, "The training is intense; I wasn't one of them because I was in the security corps, but within the same unit, I assure you it’s tough, with more than 8 hours a day training for this type of guard duty, and I dare say, he won't be the last case. As the country keeps heading downhill, more will likely fall; it's just a matter of time."
In Cuba, where the government mandates compulsory military service for young men, many families face critical situations due to this enforced measure. Such is the case for Sandra Jiménez Cruz, a single mother from Moa, Holguín, who voiced her struggles in the Facebook group "revolico holguín." She explained how this obligation jeopardizes her already precarious family situation.
Jiménez stated that her eldest son has completed military service, but now her younger son, aged 19, is being pressured to enlist. "I don't agree with him serving because I live alone with him and my mother, who is sick and cannot stay alone," she said. During the day, while she works, her younger son takes care of his grandmother, as the older son lives independently.
The mother reported that military authorities threatened her with a 5,000-peso fine if her son fails to attend the medical check for military service. This case underscores the devastating impact of compulsory military service on vulnerable families, revealing a system that, rather than protecting its citizens, imposes decisions that further destabilize their daily lives.
Moreover, families often take to social media to denounce abuses and mistreatment endured by young men during mandatory military service, including alarming reports of suicides and deaths under such conditions. The mother of Nesky Gabriel Escalona Ortíz, a young Cuban reported missing while serving in the military and found dead six days later, confronted officers during her son's funeral.
Understanding Cuba's Compulsory Military Service Challenges
What are the main factors causing soldiers to faint during duty in Cuba?
Soldiers in Cuba's honor guard may faint due to exhaustion from long hours of standing, rotating shifts, and potentially insufficient nutrition.
How does Cuba's mandatory military service affect families?
Compulsory military service in Cuba places a significant burden on families, particularly those already vulnerable, by disrupting family dynamics and adding financial stress.
What actions have families taken against military service abuses in Cuba?
Families have increasingly turned to social media to expose and criticize the abuses and mistreatment faced by young men during their military service in Cuba.