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Belgium’s first voluntary military service program, introduced to expand its armed forces, has proven an unexpected success. More than 3,000 people applied for the 500 slots in the government’s first cohort, pushing the competition ratio above 6 to 1. Despite being a voluntary scheme rather than mandatory service, the large turnout of young people has led some to view it as a potential new model for securing military personnel.
According to European news outlet Euractiv on the 4th, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken recently announced that 500 people had been selected from the applicants for the first voluntary military service program. About 80 percent of those selected are men and 20 percent are women. “Contrary to concerns that young people’s interest would be low, participation exceeded expectations,” Francken said.
Those selected will receive basic military training in the army, navy and air force before gaining hands-on experience in operational units. The service period is one year, with a monthly salary of about 2,000 euros (approximately 3.3 million won). After completing their service, they will also have the option to continue as professional soldiers or reservists. The Belgian government emphasizes that the program helps participants not only acquire military skills but also learn discipline and responsibility, aiding their transition into society.
Belgium launched the program in earnest last November, sending notices encouraging voluntary military service participation to about 130,000 17-year-olds across the country. The government plans to gradually increase the number of participants to an annual scale of 1,000 by 2035, and to nearly double its military strength, currently at about 24,000, including reservists.
Belgium is also revising its regulations to secure personnel. Starting in September, it will ease physical examination standards for new recruits and reservists, and raise the eligible age for reservist applications from the current 49 to 67. However, some acknowledged the practical limits of reviving conscription, which has been proposed by some quarters. Francken drew a line, saying that reintroducing mandatory service would not be easy due to prolonged defense budget cuts and reductions in military organization. Belgium abolished conscription in 1993 and switched to a volunteer-based system.
France, Denmark and Lithuania Also Expanding
The movement is not unique to Belgium. As security concerns have grown following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European countries are accelerating efforts to secure standing armies and reserve forces.
France has been implementing a 10-month voluntary military service system for those aged 18 to 25 since this year. About 5,000 people applied for the 3,000 slots recruited this year, far exceeding the quota, and the government plans to expand it to 4,000 next year and up to 10,000 by 2028.
In Lithuania, a Baltic country bordering Russia, voluntary enlistment applications exceeded 8,100 this year. That figure far surpasses the roughly 5,000 people scheduled to be selected annually. Denmark has also moved to expand its forces, extending the service period from the previous four months to 11 months and including women among those subject to conscription.
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