Belgian army recruitment hits five-year high

Belgium recruited nearly 3,000 new professional soldiers in 2025, the highest number in five years, according to figures requested by MP Axel Weydts from Defence minister Theo Francken.

The Belgian armed forces recruited 2,993 professional military staff last year, up from 2,789 in 2021. The biggest increases were among officers and non-commissioned officers.

Recruitment of officers rose from 352 to 509 over the same period, while the number of non-commissioned officers increased from 1,017 to 1,181. The number of volunteers fell slightly.

The army also recruited 800 reservists in 2025, around double the figure recorded four years ago. Reservists combine civilian jobs or studies with part-time military service.

More women are also joining the armed forces, especially in higher-ranking positions. The number of female officers recruited increased by nearly 58 per cent since 2021.

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Officials say growing international tensions and increased defence spending have made military careers more attractive. Weydts, himself a former army officer, said the figures show that “many committed Belgians see their future in Defence”.

He also stressed that the military is recruiting for a wide range of jobs beyond combat roles, including engineers and IT specialists.

^{© BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND}