Dutch young people who are seventeen years old this year may be surprised if in September a service letter for the second time falls on the doormat. It is not a call for conscription, but an invitation for a survey.
Every Dutchman who is or will be seventeen this year has already received a letter about conscription in the spring. It is not common that the Ministry of Defense will send a second letter later in the year. But that happens this year.
Defense is looking for many new people. At the beginning of this year it was decided that the armed forces should grow to 100,000 employees in the period up to 2030.
“With the survey in the second service letter, we want to wrist how young people look at the armed forces,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense told NU.nl. “It then offers young people the opportunity to become a reservist, for example or to look further at a job at Defense.”
The Defense plan to grow to 100,000 people in 2030 means that almost 25,000 new people have to be attracted in just over four years. “That is a very ambitious plan,” says Defense Specialist Patrick Bolder of think tank HCSS.
Defense also suffers from shortage on the labor market
It is not just a challenge to attract many new people. According to Bolder, for example, many training places and instructors are needed. “In the entire defense organization, steps are now being taken to reach the goal for 2030.”
But whether that will succeed, according to Bolder will also be partly due to the economic situation. “If the economy runs less well, the interest in a job at the Ministry of Defense usually increases because it is easier to get a permanent job there,” he explains.
But at the moment there is a shortage on the labor market. As a result, it is also a challenge for Defense to attract new staff.
Defense sees interest among young people increase
Nevertheless, Defense sees that young people more often consider going into the army. “It is tempting to say that this interest comes in Ukraine because of the situation,” says the Defense spokesperson. “But it is also something for young people of today that they want to do something for society.”
The image that young people are more interested in defense is confirmed by Bolder. “Defense now also pays better, that is an important condition. And Defense works with other service models, including a day, internship or boot camp. That also attracts the interest of young people.”
Trick to bypass privacy law
Due to the Privacy Act, Defense is not allowed to send everyone letters with an invitation for a survey. “But we can send conscription letters,” says the Defense spokesperson. “That is why it has now been decided to send the service letter for the second time in September.”
The invitation for the survey stated in the second letter may be sent in the future separately from the letter of service. The Ministry of Defense still looks at how that will be designed. “There is also a possibility that we will, for example, stop a brochure in the service letter.”
Dutch Youths who are or will be seventeen years old this year may be surprised when a conscription letter Falls on their Doors for the second time in September. It is not a call-up for military service, but an invitation to a survey.
Every Dutch person who is or will be seventeen years old this year has already recurred a letter about military service in the spring. It is not customary for the ministry of defense to send a second letter later in the year. But that is happening this year.
The Ministry of Defense is Looking for Many New People. At the beginning of this year, it was decided that the armed forces should grow to 100,000 employees in the period up to 2030.
“With the survey in the second conscription letter, we want to gauge How Young People View the Armed Forces,” Says a Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense to Nu.nl. “It then sacrifices young people the opportunity to Become a reservist, for example, or to look further into a job at defense.”
The Ministry of Defense’s plan to grow to 100,000 people in 2030 Means that Almost 25,000 New People Will Have To Be Recruited in Just about Four Years. “That is a very Ambitious plan,” Says Defense Specialist Patrick Bolder of the HCSS Think Tank.
Defense also Suffers from Labor Shortages
It is not just a challenge to attract many new people. Accordance to Bolder, there are also many a many training places and instructors needed. “Steps are now being tasks through the defense organization to achieve the 2030 goal.”
But Whether That Will Succed Will also Deeping in Part on the Economic Situation, Accordination to Bolder. “If the economy is Doing Less Well, interest in a job at defense USUALLY INCREASES, because it is now to get a permanent job there,” he explains.
But at the moment there is a shortage on the labor market. As a result, it is also a challenge for defense to attract new personnel.
Defense Sees Increasing Interest Among Young People
Neverberness, Defense Sees That Young People Are More Often Considering The Army. “It is tempting to say that this interest is due to the situation in Ukraine,” Says the Defense Spokesperson. “But it is also something with young people today that they want to do something for society.”
The Image That Young People Are More Interested in Defense is confirmed by Bolder. “Defense now also pays better, which is an important condition. And defense works with other service models, including a service year, internship or bootcamp. That also attracts the interest of Young People.”
Trick to Circumvent Privacy Law
Due to the privacy law, Defense Cannot Simply Send Letters to Everyone with An Invitation to a Survey. “But we are allowed to send conscription letters,” Says the Defense Spokesperson. “That is why it has now leg decided to send the conscription letter for the second time in September.”
The invitation to the survey in the second letter May be sent separate from the conscription letter in the future. Defense is still looking at how this will be shaped. “There is also a possibility that we will put a leaflet in the conscription letter, for example.”