Belgian Military Gets Younger as Average Age of Soldiers Drops to 34.7
The average age of military personnel in Belgium has fallen by five years over the past half-decade, dropping from 39.7 years in 2020 to 34.7 years at the end of 2025, according to figures released by Defense Minister Theo Francken in response to a parliamentary question. The decline reflects a significant demographic shift within the Belgian armed forces, driven by a wave of retirements and a surge in recruitment of younger personnel.
A Deliberate Transformation
Minister Francken described the evolution as “in line with projections,” attributing it to two main factors: “massive retirements between 2020 and 2024” and a “considerable increase in recruitment” of younger soldiers, as reported by La Libre Belgique.
Chief of Defense General Frederik Vansina acknowledged the situation is “not ideal” but stressed it was necessary. “We couldn’t do otherwise, we had to repair the structure of the age pyramid,” he said, noting that 10 to 15 years ago, the army had “many old soldiers and few young ones.”
Record Recruitment Numbers
The rejuvenation comes as the Belgian Defense has positioned itself as the country’s largest recruiter. Recruitment numbers have climbed steadily, from 2,789 in 2021 to a record 2,993 in 2025. For 2026, the Defense has opened 4,800 new positions — another record — including 2,800 active-duty military personnel, 960 civilian staff, 1,050 reservists, and 500 spots for a new voluntary military service program, according to the official Defense announcement.
The Defense is particularly seeking technicians, nurses, doctors, veterinarians, air traffic controllers, pilots, and cyber experts. For many roles, recruits can earn a bachelor’s degree at the Defense’s expense.
Voluntary Military Service: Overwhelming Demand
A pilot program launched in 2026 — the Voluntary Military Service Year (Année de Service Militaire Volontaire) — has proven remarkably popular. Offering 500 spots for young people aged 18-25 to serve as full-time reservists for one year, the program attracted 3,248 applicants, approximately one-fifth of them women, as reported by RTBF.
Nearly 149,000 letters were sent to 17-year-olds across Belgium in late 2025 inviting them to apply. Minister Francken had earlier outlined the vision: “In November, all 17-year-olds — about 130,000 — will receive an invitation. Those who develop a taste for the experience can remain reservists, move to active duty, or continue elsewhere with an excellent foundation,” he said at a September 2025 press conference.
The selected candidates will be notified in July 2026, with the first cohort beginning service in August.
Retention Challenges Remain
Despite the recruitment success, the Belgian military faces significant retention challenges. According to Le Vif, approximately 35-40% of recruits did not complete their training in 2024, a dropout rate that raises questions about the military’s capacity to absorb its growing intake.
Union representative Boris Morenville of SLFP-Défense has voiced concerns about infrastructure and training capacity. While calling the voluntary service idea “fundamentally good,” he questioned whether the Defense has the means to support it: “Is Defense capable of absorbing this task? No. We don’t have the infrastructure means,” he told RTBF, pointing to 30 years of logistical disinvestment.
General Vansina acknowledged the training challenge, noting that with many experienced soldiers retiring, there is a shortage of personnel to train the new influx of young recruits.
Broader Context
The rejuvenation of Belgium’s military occurs against a backdrop of heightened European defense spending following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The De Wever government has committed to increasing the defense budget to 2% of GDP by the end of the current legislature, in line with NATO targets. The Plan Star, approved under the previous government, aims to reach 29,000 military personnel by 2030, up from approximately 26,000 in 2021.
What to Watch
As the first cohort of voluntary military service members begins training in August, key questions remain: Can the Defense build the infrastructure needed to support expanded recruitment? Will retention rates improve as the military adapts to a younger workforce? And could the overwhelming demand for the voluntary service program lead to its expansion beyond the initial 500 spots? The answers will shape the future of Belgium’s armed forces for years to come.