Competition for qualified personnel has been increasing for some time, both in the public sector and in the private sector. After decades of financial neglect, the Austrian Armed Forces has a considerable need to catch up in the areas of infrastructure, equipment and personnel. A turnaround in equipment has already been initiated with the increased budget and now a positive trend in personnel gains is also following.
“Thanks to ‘Mission Forward’ and the associated personnel offensive, we have been able to initiate a positive trend. We have seen an increase of eleven percent in the number of new career non-commissioned officer candidates in 2024 and an increase of ten percent in the number of career officers starting in 2023 compared to the previous year. The introduction of voluntary basic military service for women has increased the number of female soldiers to 755 – more than ever before. The number of new civilian recruits has also risen by 77 percent and the measures taken in the militia have also had a positive effect on recruitment,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner.
“We have already made a lot of good progress in upgrading the armed forces. At the same time, we need to get more young people interested in the armed forces as an attractive employer. The path we have taken is showing the first positive results here. The personnel challenge will keep us busy for some time to come. As soldiers, we are therefore also called upon to continue this positive trend ourselves. The basis for further growth is the six-month military training and the appreciation of the basic conscripts in their units,” says Major General Martin Dorfer, Head of the Land Forces and Special Operations Directorate.
Measures are having an effect – the fight for financial improvement continues
The Minister emphasized the need to retain newly recruited personnel and also highlighted the ongoing efforts and improvements: “Compared to previous years, around 30 percent fewer soldiers are leaving their training or service prematurely. Of course, we still have a lot to achieve when it comes to the pay of our soldiers. That is why we never tire of repeating our demands to the responsible civil service ministry: Alignment of officers with the academic scheme in the federal service, further increases in the pay of non-commissioned officers and also the financial upgrading of foreign deployments. We are all working on presenting the Armed Forces as an attractive employer, highlighting the wide range of job opportunities and convincing people that serving in the Armed Forces makes a meaningful contribution to society.”
