Over 1,100 young people already registered for info sessions on voluntary military service
More than 1,100 young people have already registered for an information session on the new voluntary military service year, announced defence minister Theo Francken. Since Wednesday, all 17-year-olds in Belgium should have received a letter about this from the ministry of defence.
A total of almost 149,000 letters have been sent out. Applications open in January 2026, after which the young people who signed up will undergo physical and psychological tests in the spring. 500 candidates between 18 and 25 will be selected to begin in September next year, when a training programme will start at various locations across the country.
In just three days, more than 1,100 young people - 626 Dutch-speaking and 480 French-speaking - have already registered for an information session on the voluntary military service year. Registration for this session is mandatory before they can register for the military training itself. The first info session will take place in Ghent on Saturday 22 November.
Participants will earn a net salary of 2,000 euros per month and serve as reservists in security roles in the army, navy or air force. Another 1,000 places are planned for 2027, with numbers gradually increasing to a maximum of 7,000.
Illustration © BELGA PHOTO POOL DIRK WAEM