Belgian Army Eases Medical Rules to Boost Recruitment

Belgium’s Defence Minister Theo Francken will ease the medical criteria for joining the Belgian army and reserves starting 1 September, a reform designed to broaden recruitment and fill support roles that do not require front-line fitness. As VRT NWS reports, the change recognises that not every service member needs to meet the physical standards of an F-35 pilot or special forces operator.

Why the Change Now

The announcement comes as Belgian Defence pushes to expand its personnel corps to 34,500 military staff, 12,800 reservists and 8,500 civilian employees. VRT NWS reported in November that the army was cleared to grow to 30,300 soldiers in 2026, part of a broader government strategy to strengthen the country’s defence capacity.

Recruitment, however, has been hampered by medical screening rules that Francken describes as “very old” and full of “certain absurdities.” Candidates for desk-based positions such as the procurement service were assessed against the same standards as combat soldiers, with some rejected for a less-than-perfect back or imperfect hearing.

“If you want to expand Defence, you can use everyone you need,” Francken told VRT NWS. “Procurement profiles don’t need to meet the same criteria as combat soldiers. Someone who wants to put their knowledge and expertise in procurement files at the service of Defence doesn’t need a perfect back.”

Criteria Tailored to the Function

The updated criteria, drafted by military doctors, retain a basic medical fitness standard for all personnel but tailor requirements to the demands of each role.

“Everyone must of course be medically fit. It’s not that we’re going to attract people who aren’t fit for the job, but we will be more pragmatic,” he said.

The minister singled out cyberwarriors as a prime example. “Not everyone will have to fly an F-35 or end up in an elite special operations unit,” he said. “We also have very good cyberwarriors who are overweight. Online they are the best fighters, but you must not make them fight physically.”

The reservist age ceiling was already raised from 49 to 67 years to widen the applicant pool, yet older candidates were still being turned away over minor physical issues such as hearing loss. Francken estimates that between 10 and 20 percent of candidates currently rejected will be able to begin their training under the relaxed rules.

A Pragmatic Shift for Modern Defence

The reform reflects a broader evolution in modern militaries, where specialist support roles in cyber, logistics, procurement and administration no longer demand combat-level physical fitness. By aligning medical standards with actual job requirements, Belgium aims to remain competitive in a tight labour market while preserving readiness for its front-line units.

What to Watch

The exact content of the new criteria has not yet been published. The changes take effect on 1 September, and the coming weeks will show whether the relaxed standards translate into a larger, more diverse force — and whether Belgium can meet its ambitious recruitment targets.