“The international context pushes us to take measures to strengthen our armed forces”write five deputies of the federal majority Arizona (N-VA, committed, MR, Vooruit, CD&V) in a common law proposal. This text, which will be debated this Tuesday in the House, aims to create the legal conditions for the sending of the said letter.
The (voluntary) military service will return to Belgium, perhaps already in 2026
Arouse interest in defense
“Although there is no question of reinstating a compulsory military service, it is essential, given the current circumstances, of opening the doors to a voluntary military servicecontinue the five parliamentarians. This bill aims to create [un] Mode of contact in order to touch young people as directly as possible, through an awareness letter to this voluntary military service. “
“It can be interesting for them […] to discover the possibilities offered by defense. The letter is an effective lever to arouse their interest […]. This letter is the most effective way to reach as much young people as possible, without social distinction. The invitation for a voluntary military service must be perceived as an invitation to carry out citizen action. It is important to emphasize that the sending of this letter imposes no obligation on its recipient. This letter is exclusively informative. “
The letters will be sent once a year and will contain, among other things, a description of the security issues.
Contacted, the office of the Minister of Defense explains that no typical letter has yet been written. It is first to authorize the defense to consult the national register – which is one of the objects of the bill – to be able to contact the young people concerned.
What salary will the 18-year-old young people voluntarily be in the army can we expect?
Up to a thousand recruits per year
The law specifies that the Ministry of Defense will send “A letter of awareness of each Belgian citizen or national of a Member State of the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation, residing in Belgium and reaching the age of eighteen “. Letters will be shipped once a year and will contain “The following elements: a description of the security issues; An invitation to apply for the reserve of the armed forces to serve it voluntarily for a year […] ; registration procedures “.
Volunteer military service must in particular “Allow the constitution of a larger volume of reservists “explained the Minister of Defense, in April, in his general policy note for the year 2025. He has the will to start the voluntary service “In September 2026 with 500 candidates “. “Subsequently, the concept will be extended […] To be fully operational by 2028 with a standard incorporation of 1,000 candidates selected per year. ” Theo Francken had also indicated on RTL that young people would win “just under 2,000 euros net “ per month during their year of service.
Finally, the bill for the federal majority specifies that the voluntary service will be the subject of an evaluation in ten years in order to verify “If the sending of an awareness letter is still appropriate “ Look at “the evolution of security issues “.
