The Belgian Case

Vienna, 15th Dec 2010

European Models of Military Services

Plan

1. Current system of military service

2. Assessment modern military tasks

3. Political & strategic considerations

4. Assessment social & economic side-effects

5. Consequences on defence budget

6. Main lessons learned

1. Short description of current system of military service (1/3)

• Armed Forces: 34.000 (planned by 2013)– 32.000 Military & 2000 Civilians– Coming from 92.000 (in 1992 with conscripts)– Today = 36.738 (without conscripts)

• Category Ratio : – 15% Offr– 42,5% NCO– 42,5% Soldiers/Sailors

• 3 Services (Land-Air-Navy) + Medical Sp• No conscripts (from 1994 onwards)

Current system – Assesm Modern Mil tasks – PolMil Consid – Soc&Econ effects - Def Budget - Lessons Learned

• Military Operations : – based upon mandate UN – EU – NATO– High + Low spectrum of violence

(War / Crisis Mgt / Peace Sp - scenarios)

• Bilateral Military Partnerships– African Continent – Great Lake District

• National Disaster Relief missions

Current system – Assesm Modern Mil tasks – PolMil Consid – Soc&Econ effects - Def Budget - Lessons Learned

1. Short description of current system of military service (2/3)

• Military personnel: – Specific Statutory System (Laws)– “life time employment” until unique retirement

age (56y – except Gen)– Changes need time (political process)

• Civilian personnel: – Federal employees – different statute Mil

• Conscription ended in period 1992-1994

Current system – Assesm Modern Mil tasks – PolMil Consid – Soc&Econ effects - Def Budget - Lessons Learned

1. Short description of current system of military service (3/3)

2. Assessment of military system modern military tasks

• Only professionals

• Maturity increase in execution of all kind of military operations

• Need for an ideal “young” age piramid actual statutory system (56y)

Current system – Assesm Modern Mil tasks – PolMil Consid – Soc&Econ effects - Def Budget - Lessons Learned

Age piramid - problem

AGE STRUCTURE OF MILITARY PERSONNEL

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 61

Theoretical ideal structure 2005 2011

AGE STRUCTURE OF MILITARY PERSONNEL

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 61

Theoretical ideal structure 2005 2011

Age piramid – new mixed statute

3. Political & strategic considerations leading to current system of mil service

• Conscript system became socialy unjust– Only 1 out of 4 was called to “serve”

• Political dividend & opportunity– End of “Berlin Wall / Iron Curtain” – period– Collapse of Warsaw Pact / Soviet Union

• Quick political win (within 1 legislation)– End conscription– Resize Armed forces

• No “forced leavers” – only voluntary based Current system – Assesm Modern Mil tasks – PolMil Consid – Soc&Econ effects - Def Budget - Lessons Learned

4. Assessment social & economic side-effects

• Social– No more “outspread”- contact with the military due to

situation where every family knows a soldier.– Nor a sound “reserve forces”-pool

• Economic– Difficulty in finding technical skilled people, with

increase technology in military systems– Difficulty to become an attractive employer in

competition with labour market => Cost– Finding right solution in a mixed statute for military

Current system – Assesm Modern Mil tasks – PolMil Consid – Soc&Econ effects - Def Budget - Lessons Learned

Mixed careers - option

Continued military career

Orientation process

Career in the armed forces reserve

• job public service agent • job private sector• using outplacement

Initial military career

Civilian career within the Armed Forces

Leave Leave Armed ForcesArmed Forces

5. Consequences on defence budget

• Conscripts cheeper, but…– Need a great number of conscripts to meet

expectation/knowledge/skill of 1 soldier for a duration of time

– Risk = to retain your professionals as well– Need an adequate/attractive pay system

• Professional armed forces – within the political allocated budget– 60% payrole – 20 to 25% functioning cost –

10 to 15 % reinvestment cost (Mat + Infra)

Current system – Assesm Modern Mil tasks – PolMil Consid – Soc&Econ effects - Def Budget - Lessons Learned

6. Main lessons learned

• Simultaneous actions of shrinking armed forces + ending conscription is a double challenge (to avoid)

• Take care of age piramid if no “forced leavers”– make people RETIRE themselves, on demand

• Need of adequate statute, no life time employment – RECONVERT in time (labour market permitting?)

• To last in time– RECRUIT & RETAIN measures in place

Current system – Assesm Modern Mil tasks – PolMil Consid – Soc&Econ effects - Def Budget - Lessons Learned

AGE STRUCTURE OF MILITARY PERSONNEL

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 61

Theoretical ideal structure 2005 2011

Reconvert

Retire

RecruitRetain

Challenge of 4R’s

Questions?

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