A total of 3,248 men and women have signed up for Belgium’s first voluntary year of military service, according to figures released by the Ministry of Defense on the final day of registration. Only 500 places were available.
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Voluntary military service becomes tremendous success in Belgium: 3,248 applicants for 500 places
Colin Clapson
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At the end of 2025, all 17-year-olds in Belgium—about 130,000 in total—received a letter with information about the new voluntary year of military service for youngsters. The positions were advertised at the beginning of this year, and interest was immediately high: within two hours, 1,702 young people had signed up.
“We’re wrapping things up today, and at the moment we have 3,248 men and women who have applied for one or more positions. That’s a good number,” says Lieutenant Colonel Margot Van Waeyenberge, head of marketing and communications at the Belgian armed forces Recruitment and Selection department. About 1 in 5 applicants are women.
Final Tally on July 30
Currently, at least 1,600 candidates are already in the selection process. They still have a chance of landing one of the 500 available places. The selection process consists of two days of tests at the military hospital, including medical examinations, physical fitness tests, psychometric tests, and an interview with a psychologist.
The selection criteria are in line with those for other military positions, Van Waeyenberge explains. Candidates must be medically fit and in good physical condition. Motivation and attitude are also taken into account. “You must enjoy working in a team, be flexible, and love the outdoors.”
On July 30, the final selection will be made, and the candidates who will be able to start will be informed. They will receive a net monthly salary of 2,000 euros.
The positions are divvied up across the various branches of the Belgian armed forces. The majority, 375 positions, are allocated to the Army. In addition, there are 50 positions in the Navy and 75 in the Air Force.
Basic Training is First Step
The candidates selected will begin a 10-week basic training course in September. Young people will learn the fundamentals of the military profession, such as map reading, marksmanship, first aid, and tactics. This will be followed by a short internship and assignment to a unit, where they will spend the remainder of their service year performing duties with the Navy, Air Force, or Army.
In 2027, 1,000 places have been set aside for voluntary military service for youngsters. This number will gradually be increased to a maximum of 7,000.