Eastern Europe has problems with military recruitment

Western European countries are struggling with personnel shortages in their armies. According to Reuters, NATO countries will need 35 to 50 additional forces to fully implement their defense plans against Russia. For example, the Czech Republic, like most former Soviet satellite states that are now part of NATO, has failed to achieve adequate military recruitment rates over the years.

“It’s military units are understaffed and unable to achieve combat capability, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a reminder of the potential threat from Moscow to the region,” Yuractive notes.

Young people don’t want to join the army

– If we do nothing about the lack of manpower in the military, it means we cannot maintain peace and deter a potential enemy. Even if we modernize the equipment, we cannot do anything without people. Commander of the Czech Armed Forces General Karel Rehka commented that we do not have enough skilled and motivated people.

To attract people to the military, Czech authorities launched marketing campaigns, increased conscription bonuses and lowered medical requirements for active military personnel, reservists and recruits. But with unemployment low in Eastern Europe, the main challenge is convincing young people to serve in the military for less money than they would earn in the private sector.

“Czech is not alone. Eastern European countries have difficulty recruiting new and experienced players. This applies to countries bordering Ukraine: Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia,” we read in the publication.

The Hungarian Armed Forces have launched a media campaign and created a military-themed TV series that will air until the end of 2024. In turn, Romania and other countries believe in the emergence of a new generation of soldiers – young patriots who want to connect their lives with military service.

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