In an increasingly uncertain world, Europe’s armies are recruiting people with a wide range of skills. In the era of drones and AI, what should our army corps look like?
Europe’s national armed forces currently number around 1.5 million personnel, but according to experts, an additional 300,000 would be needed if the US were to withdraw.
Armutation
The armed forces of the EU’s 27 member states currently comprise around 1.5 million active military personnel. However, many are not deployable combat troops, which would cause problems in the event of a prolonged conflict.
In addition, the war in Ukraine has brought high-intensity conflict to Europe – and this is a type of conflict for which our troops now have to rebuild skills.
Luxembourg’s chief of staff, Steve Thull, explains what impact recent developments have had on how the Luxembourgish military operates.
Steve Thull, General, Chief of Staff of the Luxembourg Armed Forces, Interview by Jean-Claude Majerus, Radio 100.7 (in Luxembourgish)
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“I would say that today we are much more focused on the ability to operate effectively in the context of a high-intensity war. […] And that means that today we have a completely different philosophy: that we need much more robust weaponry, and that we deploy larger contingents in much greater numbers. There is once again talk of brigades, divisions and army corps, which was no longer the case previously. And all the training we conduct must also become much more intensive.”
While basic training remains unchanged – physical fitness, weapons handling, field survival techniques and basic tactics – European forces must now be brought up to speed in the use, and management, of battlefield technology. At the same time, troops must also know how to manage without this, being trained to evade satellite tracking, for example, or without digital networks – and to use coded communications and a compass!
Another characteristic of modern warfare is that battlefields no longer have fixed boundaries. Urban combat is now considered inevitable, and logistical aspects are key, with supply lines constantly under attack. Finally, troops’ awareness of hybrid warfare is also important, with cyberattacks, disinformation and infrastructure sabotage increasingly commonplace.
So, what effect does all of this have on the types of people the military should be trying to attract? Retired Lieutenant General Dr Ippocrates Daskalakis, who is now Director of Studies at the Hellenic Institute for Strategic Studies, looks at the big picture.
Ippocrates Daskalakis, Director of Studies at the Hellenic Institute for Strategic Studies (HELISS), Interview by Nikos Andritsos & Marianna Pliakostamou, SKAI (in Greek)
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“The Armed Forces need people – men and women – from all specialisms and categories. You can’t exclude anyone. We need ordinary soldiers who have almost no skills to begin with; we need those who are good with their hands to carry out repairs; we need those who will fight and those who will operate difficult and complex systems. Everyone serves a purpose in the armed forces. Our job in the armed forces is to make full use of every individual. Of course, in the current context, we are calling for high professional profiles and certain specialist IT skills, but there are also many other skills that are of use to us.”
But how can we persuade people to enlist when, in many EU countries today, a military career holds little appeal and offers limited prospects?
Bulgarian student Momchil Ivanov goes so far as to say that the army has something of a bad reputation.
Momchil Ivanov, Student in Sofia, Interview by Olya Stoyanova, BNR (in Bulgarian)
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“Generally speaking, when people hear ‘the army,’ what comes to mind is discipline and no freedom of thought.”
However, as he tells BNR journalist Olya Stoyanova, he believes the military does still have the potential to attract young people.
Momchil Ivanov, Student in Sofia, Interview by Olya Stoyanova, BNR (in Bulgarian)
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“Especially for teenagers who don’t know what to do with their lives, it might look like a good way out or a way to get their life back on track. For me, honestly, it’s 50/50. I don’t want to join the army for the long-term – it’s more like I’d do a short stint of basic training and then move on.”
So what would attract him in the army?
Momchil Ivanov, Student in Sofia, Interview by Olya Stoyanova, BNR (in Bulgarian)
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“The discipline, mainly. Maybe the focus and the physical training.”
To conscript or not to conscript?
Conscription systems vary widely across the EU. Nine member states currently have systems in place, while others have suspended conscription but have the ability to reintroduce it in times of crisis.
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There are also different models, including mandatory service for all eligible citizens, lottery-based systems, and selective conscription based on skills or motivation. The duration, compensation and scale of these systems differ significantly between countries.
We have just heard from Bulgaria, where military conscription was abolished. With the country now facing a 20- to 22-per-cent shortfall in military personnel, the Bulgarian authorities are trying to boost voluntary service, which was introduced in 2020 for citizens aged up to 40. They have even hiked up salaries in an effort to attract personnel.
Luxembourg is also seeking to provide financial incentives, including increasing the basic salary of volunteer soldiers to above the minimum wage, says defence minister Yuriko Backes.
Yuriko Backes, Defence Minister of Luxembourg, Interview by Jean-Claude Majerus, Radio 100.7 (in Luxembourgish)
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“For a week of training, an allowance of €1,855 is provided for officers. Soldiers, who until now […] received nothing at all, are now paid €1,048. This is therefore a hugely significant leap, a substantial improvement, especially for the soldiers, and we are all in support of it.”
However, not every country can afford to invest as much as Luxembourg does. This is why Julius Janulevičius, an adviser to Lithuania’s finance minister, believes that universal conscription – in other words, mandatory military service – is the only way forward. Having completed his own military service, he is now a member of the volunteer forces.
Julius Janulevičius, Advisor to the minister of finance and member of the volunteer forces, Interview by Augustė Lyberytė, Žinių Radijas (in Lithuanian)
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“I unequivocally support the idea of universal conscription, quite simply because it is fair. If I am serving, why should someone else be exempt and simply go about their own life? It would be fair to students, to young people, because there wouldn’t be any privileged individuals who can be off somewhere else while you’re sitting in the barracks or training. Furthermore, as a state, we cannot afford to rely solely on voluntary service. The lottery system is fine for now, but ultimately, we must transition to universal conscription because the geopolitical situation makes it clear that we lack soldiers. We need to create a vision; we need to fill the gaps.”
But, as previously mentioned, our armed forces also need more people who can go straight into action and are committed to long-term service.
Meanwhile, European countries are expanding reserve components, volunteer reserves and civilian specialists.
- Hermine Donceel, Euranet Plus News Agency
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