From Wednesday, November 12th, all 17-year-olds in Belgium will receive letters inviting them to sign up for a year of voluntary military service in the Belgian armed forces. The letter begins:
Congratulations! Next year you will turn 18. This is an important milestone and a time when you will make choices for your future. The Ministry of Defence is offering you a unique opportunity, a voluntary Military Service Year.
The initiative targets around 130,000 young people, with the Defence Ministry hoping at least 1,500 will apply.
Participants will receive a salary of €2,000 per month, luncheon vouchers, reimbursement for medical costs and free public transport. After a 10-week basic training and 1–3 weeks of specialized training, they will join military barracks to take part in exercises and operations.
Anna Roos of the Flemish Youth Council praised the focus on defence as a form of “collective insurance,” noting young people’s growing awareness of global conflicts. However, she criticized the tone of the letter, saying it is “dryly worded” and unlikely to appeal to many.
Those interested must attend one of the information sessions held from November 22 to December 7. Ultimately, just 500 applicants—375 for the army, 75 for the air force and 50 for the navy—will be selected to start the programme.
Other European countries have suggested introducing compulsory military service for youth, with Friedrich Merz stating that he no longer believes voluntary enlistment is sufficient.
