In november krijgen alle 17-jarigen brief over vrijwillige legerdienst, Defensie wil personeelsbestand verdubbelen | VRT NWS: nieuws
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In november zullen alle 17-jarigen van ons land een brief in de bus krijgen met informatie over een vrijwillig militair dienstjaar. Dat minister van Defensie Theo Francken (N-VA) een vrijwillige legerdienst voor jongeren wil oprichten, was al langer bekend. Nu is er meer informatie over bekend. Daarnaast wil Defensie het personeelsbestand de komende 10 jaar verdubbelen.

Summary:

  • Belgium will send informational letters in November to all 17-year-olds (about 130,000) about a proposed voluntary one-year military service; the law still needs parliamentary approval and may be revised after a negative advisory from the Council of State over data access concerns.
  • Physical info sessions will be held in every province in November, followed by digital sessions; applications open January 2026 for people aged 18–25.
  • Selection in summer 2026 aims to screen 3,500 candidates; 500 will start the service in September 2026, paid €2,000 net per month. Capacity rises to 1,000 places in 2027 and could reach 7,000 eventually; roles focus on security positions across navy, air and land forces.
  • Minister Theo Francken emphasizes recruitment (not reinstating compulsory conscription) and says people can continue a military career afterward or bring experience to civilian jobs; he supports a possible future mandatory civil service.
  • Defence launched a large recruitment drive: 4,800 vacancies for 2026 (2,800 military, 1,050 reservists, 960 civilian). Over 10 years it aims to double personnel to roughly 34,500 military, 12,800 reservists and 8,500 civilian staff.
  • Investments include new equipment (MQ-9B drones, air defense, F-35s) and creation of a Cyber Command with sponsored cybersecurity degrees. For 2025, about 3,550 hires were planned; ~3,200 have already been recruited or scheduled.