Army seeks female recruits

Women in the armed forces: “You still stand out”

Daniela Egartner (left) trains young recruits like Adriana Miletic in St. Johann.(Bild: Tschepp Markus)

More and more young women are deciding to become soldiers. The army is happy to have them for several reasons and has recently started offering voluntary basic military service.

Around 70 female soldiers out of 750 throughout Austria are currently serving in the province of Salzburg. The "Krone" found out from young women at the Schwarzenberg barracks in Wals-Siezenheim why they chose this career path and what they experience.

Voluntary basic military service offers insight
Fifteen minutes before the agreed time, a group of female soldiers stand at attention at the meeting point to answer the interview questions. "I've been interested in this job for a long time," says Adriana Miletic (20). The Bludenz native and graduate of a tourism school seized an opportunity that the army has been offering since April 2023: Miletic is completing voluntary basic military service. A good choice, she says. "The opportunity is great. I don't have to join the squad straight away, but can first see how I like it."

They are serving in the province of Salzburg: Adriana Miletic, Stefanie Unterberger, Tamara Böhm, Jana Baumann and Daniela Egartner.(Bild: Tschepp Markus)

Their instructor is Daniela Egartner (26) from Rosegg in Carinthia. She is responsible for new non-commissioned officers and conscripts in the Command Support Battalion 2 in St. Johann. From seven years in the military, she knows: "Women take criticism more seriously. They work harder on themselves than men when something doesn't work. In some situations, they are more resilient, for example when they are sleep deprived during long exercises," says Egartner. Even though she has been with the team for a long time, she realizes: "As a woman, you stand out."

Tamara Böhm from Bergheim is part of the medical training company. The 21-year-old is applying for admission to medical school. She wants to become a military doctor.(Bild: Tschepp Markus)

Tamara Böhm (21) describes just how tangible this is when you join the army. "People always look at you for the first few weeks," she says. She wants to become a military doctor. "If I pass the university entrance exam, I can concentrate fully on my studies as an army employee," says Böhm, hoping for a positive exam in May.

"Men now feel more motivated"
The army is trying hard to recruit more women. "The men feel more spurred on by the women when they have to perform," says a spokesperson with a grin. Female soldiers are a great asset to the army.