Theo Francken, the Belgian minister of defense, seeks to attract young people to voluntary military service to raise the country’s reservist force from about 6,600 to 20,000. Later this year, after a similar effort recently launched in the Netherlands, 18-year-olds will start getting letters urging them to enlist in the army.
The existing cap of 6,000 reservists in Belgium has already been surpassed. Many requests have been made, but according to Francken, all training programs are full and there aren’t enough teachers to accommodate the growing demand for military service.
Francken’s proposal would enable an extra 500 reservists to enlist voluntarily in the military beginning in 2026. This number would rise to 1,000 annually starting in 2027. By 2029, he hopes to have 5,600 reservists on board.
Those who decide to enlist will serve for a year and receive a monthly wage of about €2,000, equivalent to what a rookie soldier would make. After a year, those who choose not to enlist will have to serve as reservists for ten years. In late March, the Netherlands affirmed that by 2030, it wants to quadruple its armed force from 70,000 to 200,000.
A poll will be offered to 17-year-olds voluntarily, but it may eventually become required. In Sweden, 17-year-olds are already required to complete a comprehensive assessment on their skills, motivations, and interest in defense.
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