More than 3,000 young people applied for the programme
Belgium has met its target of recruiting 500 young adults for its new voluntary military service year, with the first participants set to begin training with the Army, Air Force and Navy in the coming weeks.
Defence Minister Theo Francken said on Monday that more than 3,000 people applied for the programme, with the 500 successful candidates selected through a competitive process. The intake is made up of around 80% men and 20% women.
Francken said the programme had exceeded expectations despite early criticism from opponents who questioned whether young people would be interested or whether the Defence Ministry could organise the initiative effectively.
Last November, the government sent letters to around 130,000 17-year-olds urging them to sign up for a year’s voluntary military service in the Belgian armed forces. Francken said the response was overwhelmingly positive.
