Federal Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder (PS) launched an appeal to the population to become reservists in the Belgian Army, a day after the Army Reserve Reform Act was passed.
As an increasing number of people are interested in the military, Dedonder said the Act was passed to make reserve military status more attractive and give veterans and former reservists more options to reenlist. For example, reservists will no longer have to renew their application annually.
"With the 2024 recruitment campaign, we are offering 2,500 open places for military personnel, as well as 460 places for civilian personnel and 1,050 for reservists, including places for student reservists," said Dedonder in a press release.
"Many people contact me and say they are interested in serving their country or want to get involved in society and help ensure the safety of their fellow citizens. The Defence Ministry offers opportunities in this regard, especially in the Reserve, which is expanding its capabilities with this," she added.
War in Ukraine
"As a reservist, you can use your knowledge and experience in a unique environment: you work together with professional soldiers and civilians of the department for a mission where your skills and talents make a difference," Dedonder said. "Whether it is a few days a year or a whole year, there are different ways to join the Reserve and we are looking for very diverse skills."
In practice, the Reserve Reform Act makes it easier to:
- allow a professional soldier who has already retired to be included in the Reserve framework at their own request, to the extent that this meets the needs of the department,
- allow an active-duty soldier who chooses to leave the army or whose commitment expires to be automatically inducted into the Reserve at their own request for a period of ten years or even longer, to the extent that this responds to the needs of the Department,
- allow a reservist soldier to participate in the external recruitment of reservist candidates for a higher-level position in the same personnel category or in a higher personnel category,
- automatically extend the duration of re-employment (which is currently ten or five years, depending on the case), until the reservist reaches the age of 60; and allow the termination of this deployment when the reservist has failed to meet ordinary calls for ten consecutive years,
- allow a reservist who has lost reservist status for certain reasons to be reinstated in the Reserve at their own request and provided the conditions are met,
- allow remote working for reservist soldiers and prospective reservist soldiers.
Dedonder's appeal did not come out of the blue: since Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, the security situation in Europe is no longer stable. Russian President Vladimir Putin makes regular threats towards Europe, and the Chief of Defence of the Belgian Armed Forces Michel Hofman has warned of a possible attack on the Baltic states.
"With this law, we make it easier for reservists to join the department, depending on their individual career path," said Dedonder. "The reserve is an important pillar of the department that I want to continue to strengthen.
