Francken reveals how much he wants to give 18-year-olds for year military service: « Well paid, but they have to work for it »

It had been known for some time that Theo Francken would send all 18-year-olds in our country in which they are invited to do voluntary military service for a long time. The intention was stated in the coalition agreement and Francken already announced that it would make work as quickly as possible. In the meantime, there is more clarity about the timing. In November of this year the minister will send the letter, in April and May 2026 interested people will be invited to take physical and psychological tests, so that the graduates can start their service in September of that year.

It has also become clear that there will be something financially about that voluntary military service. “We are currently looking at a number of options internally to (The young people in question) To be able to offer attractive conditions, « Defense tells us. “A possible option is that they will get the status of reservist. As a full -time reservist, they will then receive a remuneration of 2,498 euros gross per month (for unmarried people without family costs). That amounts to around 2,000 euros net per month. « 

Theo Francken also confirmed that amount on Wednesday evening in an interview with the French -speaking RTL. When asked how many 18-year-olds would be paid, the N-VA minister replied: “About 2,000 euros net per month, I think. I think it is well paid, but they have to work for it. « 

No mandatory flow

The Ministry of Defense says he hopes that young people want to stay with Defense after their voluntary military service, either as an active soldier, reservist or citizen. « But that will only happen on a voluntary basis, » it sounds. Staff chef Frederik Vansina said last week in an interview with La Libre Belgique That the program is also intended to allow the volunteers to move on as reservists to a 'regional reserve'. But that flow will therefore not be mandatory.

The end goal of the entire project is of course to attract enough fresh blood in the Belgian army. The army has 5,000 vacancies to fill in the next two years. Our army today has around 24,000 soldiers, at the latest, by 2030 there must be more than 29,000. That is a major challenge, given a high pension wave at the Ministry of Defense and the fact that last year four in ten recruits gave up.

At record tempo

However, Francken will be hopeful to be able to attract enough new recruits. In Gert's table On Play4, the minister said on Wednesday evening that Defense already has 5,200 candidates for 2,500 jobs this year. “The army is popular. Last year we had 10,000 candidates for 2,500 jobs. That is huge, I don't know what's going on, « said Francken. « Now we are at 5,200 candidates for 2,500 jobs for the entire year after eight weeks, so we are probably going to twenty or thirty thousand people who want to get to Defense. »

Also view. Defense minister Theo Francken wants to recruit young people through voluntary military service