Just imagine being drafted to do your national service in the army and finding yourself posted to Ibiza. You'd sign up for another two years wouldn't you? Between the 70's and late 90's thousands of young Spanish men found themselves garrisoned at the army's Ibiza HQ at Sa Coma (opposite the big Hipercentro on the road to San Antonio)
At its height the garrison consisted of around 1500 men and was a hive of activity. Now, with the abolition of national service in 2001, the army have no need for it and just a handful of troops
remain on administrative and maintenance duties.
Soon the Ministry of Defence will relinquish control of the 500,000 square metres of land and facilities which Consell boss Xico Tarres is eager to purchase to construct sports facilities and the much needed new sewage processing plant for Ibiza town.