European Military Service: A Shift Towards Compulsory and Voluntary Recruitment

Fri Dec 05 2025 22:30:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As security concerns rise across Europe, several NATO countries are reassessing military service policies, with some reintroducing conscription while others seek to boost volunteer recruitment.

Amid escalating global tensions, particularly post-Russia's invasion of Ukraine, NATO member states in Europe are adapting their military recruitment strategies. Nine countries maintain conscription, while others, like Belgium and Poland, are enhancing voluntary military service with attractive incentives. Germany and France also plan to strengthen their armed forces through new voluntary service initiatives as they respond to public calls for increased military readiness.

Some of Europe's biggest NATO members are moving to strengthen their professional armies through voluntary national service schemes.

Large conscripted armies were a feature of NATO states during the Cold War but they dwindled in size after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

However, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the ongoing war there have kindled fears of a possible future Russian attack on NATO.

Here we look at how this new recruitment drive is playing out among NATO's 30 European member states, many of whom still have conscript armies.

Who conscripts?

Conscription is in place for nine of Europe's NATO states: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and Turkey.

In Turkey, men between the ages of 20 and 41 are obliged to do military service for between six and 12 months.

By comparison, Norway conscripts both men and women, generally for 12 months.

Croatia plans to reintroduce conscription next year - it will become mandatory for men aged 19 to 29 to undergo two months of basic military training.

Other NATO members do not conscript but have professional militaries.

The UK, which rivals France or Germany in conventional military strength and is the only NATO state in Europe along with France to have nuclear weapons, relies on a professional army.

Iceland has no regular military forces, though its Coast Guard performs some defence tasks.

Who is looking for volunteers?

Only this month, Belgium's defence ministry sent letters to 17-year-olds inviting them to volunteer for about €2,000 a month.

The voluntary military service scheme, due to start next year, aims to raise the number of reservists in the army from a pool of about 6,000 to 20,000.

Poland launched one-month voluntary basic military training in 2024, with plans for further large-scale military training for all adult males.

France is introducing a new scheme for young volunteers to serve for 10 months of paid military training.

What about the rest of Europe?

Other states have different approaches to staffing their militaries.

Austria has compulsory military service for men aged between 18 and 35.
Cyprus requires military service for all male citizens over 18.
The Republic of Ireland and Malta maintain professional militaries.
In Switzerland, male citizens aged 18 to 30 must serve in the military or opt for an alternate service.