The Belgian army is tackling its recruitment challenge with a range of initiatives. These include recruitment campaigns in shopping centres, partnerships with Forem and Actiris, and a training plan to bring marginalised young people into the professional circuit through the Reboot4You programme. The army aims to recruit 10,000 soldiers by 2024, and has seen positive figures for the 2023 recruitment campaign, with 4448 applicants in March alone. Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder emphasises the importance of modern, dynamic initiatives and notes that the army is one of the biggest providers of jobs in Belgium. Additionally, since the start of the 2022 academic year, students in technical secondary education can follow a Defense, prevention and security study option. The project aims to introduce students to the sector and prepare them for military professions. The initiative has been successful, with 360 young people registering in Flanders, 191 of whom have chosen Defense professions. Demand for the programme is high, and the minister is pleased to see young people keen to serve their country and aid their fellow citizens.
Recruitment campaigns in shopping centres, partnerships with Forem and Actiris, a training plan to bring young people on the fringes of our education and training system into the professional circuit (via the Reboot4You programme), job days across the country: Defense is redoubling its initiatives to meet one of its greatest challenges, recruitment.
The army must indeed recruit 10,000 soldiers by 2024. “I try to set up dynamic and modern initiatives, emphasizes the socialist minister. This works well for applicants. Here, in 2023, we will recruit 4110 people, 2500 soldiers and 760 civilians. We are certainly one of the biggest providers of jobs in Belgium. And as I speak to you, when we have just started the 2023 recruitment campaign, the figures for the month of March are very positive. We remain cautious but we see that we were at 4448 applicants, while last year, we are at 3800, which was already more than in 2021“.
The greatest challenge of the Belgian army
Since the start of the 2022 academic year, it has also been possible to follow a Defense, prevention and security study option from the fourth year of technical secondary education. This project, initiated by Defense and in collaboration with various security professions, aims, among other things, to make it possible to get to know the sector and to prepare students for the military profession.
“According to the first figures, 360 young people registered in Flanders and among them, 191 chose Defense professions.she says. There are requests everywhere to open more, on the Walloon side as well. We also see waiting lists that are getting longer, I’m really happy to see that there are still young people who want to serve their country, ensure security and bring “aid to the people”.
In conclusion, the Belgian army is facing one of its greatest challenges, which is to recruit 10,000 soldiers by 2024. However, the Defense ministry is redoubling its efforts, with initiatives such as recruitment campaigns, partnerships with employment agencies, training programs, and job days across the country. Minister Ludivine Dedonder is optimistic regarding the recruitment campaign for 2023, citing positive figures in March compared to the previous year. The Defense, prevention, and security study option from the fourth year of technical secondary education is also helping to prepare students for a career in the military profession. Despite the additional cost of warships, the Belgian army remains one of the country’s biggest providers of jobs. With the growing waiting lists and demand for more openings, it is heartening to see young people stepping up to serve their country and ensure security.
