BRUSSELS

Belgium's Defense Ministry on Monday announced a record recruitment drive for 2026 alongside a new voluntary military service year for young people, according to the Belga news agency.

The ministry said 4,800 vacancies will open next year, including 2,800 for military personnel, 1,050 for reservists and 960 for civilian staff. The army plans to recruit 1,338 military personnel, the air force 410, the navy 178, and 164 for the medical service.

Within a decade, officials aim to expand the defense workforce to 34,500 military personnel, 12,800 reservists and 8,500 civilians.

Defense Minister Theo Francken emphasized the need for a stronger, more effective ministry, saying: "That means we need a lot of new people. Ambitions are high, but realistic. There is a lot of interest: on average, we have four applicants per vacancy."

Recruitment targets a wide range of profiles beyond traditional military roles, including IT specialists, technicians, psychologists, educators, and prevention advisors.

The ministry has also invested in modern equipment, including MQ-9B "Sky Guardian" drones, anti-aircraft guns and incoming F-35 fighter jets.

Voluntary service year

The voluntary service year, set to launch in 2026, will initially select 500 candidates aged 18-25.

Participants will earn a net salary of €2,000 ($2,348) per month and serve as reservists in the army, navy or air force. Numbers are expected to grow gradually to 7,000.

Francken stressed the program is not a return to mandatory military service. "Reintroducing mandatory military service for everyone isn't in the coalition agreement and isn't an option. The army can't handle it logistically either."

He added that the initiative aims to revive civic duty and provide young people with valuable experience for future careers, saying: "It's important for people to give something back to the country. That's only normal."