What do young people think about the recruitment campaign of the armed forces? ‘It may sound stupid, but I don’t feel like working at Defense’

Images of bored young people, behind the computer, in the rinsing kitchen and on the bus. A clock taps in the background. On the radio a female voice sounds that announces that the unrest in the world is increasing. The video works towards a climax, clocks in one after the other, the ticking is constantly faster. In the meantime, a heavy voice-over states: « Times change … and that requires you. »

It is one of the films from a new campaign in which the Ministry of Defense tries to make young people feel so much urgency that they join the army. Due to the threat based on Russia and the uncertain support of the United States in NATO context, the call for a stronger armed forces sounds louder and louder. For example, according to Defense, it is desperate that the organization has one hundred thousand soldiers in 2030, whereby this number « can double in the following years ».

To achieve this goal, the pressure on young people to consider national defense is further increased. Not only via the recruitment campaign, but also with the option for a shortened in the year, or the ‘resilience training’. In addition, many sixteen -year -olds received the so -called service letter again last week. In this letter, young people (boys and girls) are informed annually about conscription and deferred attendance obligation. There is still a conscription in the Netherlands, in which young adults are part of the armed forces for a while, but the Ministry of Defense no longer calls for conscripts.

This year, however, the letter is sharper from Toon than last year. For example, the phrase « such as an imminent war » has been replaced by « like an (approaching) war » and an extra paragraph has been added in which the Ministry of Defense announces a survey in which young people will be polled later this year or they want to work for the armed forces. The paragraph concludes with the question: « Do you want to think about this now? »

Study safely

On the tightly maintained football fields of the De Akkers sports complex operated by VV Heerenveense Boys, the young people are not yet particularly excited about defense. Most sixteen -year -olds answered the question of whether they read the letter of service with: « A letter? My parents will be busy with that. I don’t really care. »

Among the parents who encourage their sons along the line is also idse (16). He has received and read the contribution letter, he says. The ambition to expand Defense, he supports that: « I think there may even be a little more attention for it. More soldiers are needed for the country to protect us against a possible war with Russia. Only, there may also be a little more with the twenty and thirty-year-olds. » He hopes not to be called up. « I prefer to study Safe Business Administration than I go to the army. The army is really a backup, » he says.

Moments later, Jelte (16) also tells the national defense mainly as the last option. During the break, in the dug-out, he explains: « I have other plans. It may sound stupid, but I don’t feel like working at Defense. » The leader of his football team also emphasizes that the extra effort to find new growth is not in line with the current assumption policy: « My brother already wanted to be at the Ministry of Defense, but they told him that there were too few training places. It’s full! » Before Jelte hurry to the dressing room for the team meeting, he closes: « I don’t want to take my life on a field anywhere. Rather not, no. »

While one match is coming to an end, the next team is already ready to enter the field. Player Jente (17) says he is surprised when she saw the service letter. « I really thought: what should I do with Defense? But luckily they are not actively evoking me now. Little sense to die, » she says laughing. She hopes and thinks that because of the survey and the recruitment campaign, more of her peers sign up with the armed forces: « Then we will have enough and the chance that I have to go there! »

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