3,000 young Belgians sign up for voluntary military service year

More than 300 young people from Brussels have signed up for Belgium’s new voluntary military service year, part of a wider initiative that has attracted more than 3,000 applicants nationwide.

The programme, aimed at young adults, offers participants a year of training within the armed forces, combining physical preparation, discipline and civic engagement.

“For a first edition, we can certainly call that a success,” said lieutenant colonel Margot Van Waeyenberghe.

“We have 500 places, so a rigorous selection process will follow.”

The scheme has drawn interest from a broad range of candidates, although most applicants are young.

“The vast majority are 17 or 18 years old,” Van Waeyenberghe said, “but we also see some candidates in their mid-30s.”

The voluntary service year is designed to give participants a first experience of military life without committing to a long-term career in defence.

Authorities say the initiative aims to strengthen links between the army and society, while offering young people an opportunity to develop skills and structure.

With far more applicants than available places, selection for the first intake is expected to be competitive.