Focus on personnel

After years of cost-cutting, the armed forces are on the upswing

The "Mission Forward" secures a substantial increase for military personnel in the army. More pay, prestige and awards keep the troops happy - women are also climbing the career ladder!

The days of an ailing or even "disbanded" army will soon be over in this country. Thanks to a substantial financial injection and the proclaimed "Mission Forward", the domestic military is once again positioning itself as a highly attractive employer. Compared to the previous year, there are highly encouraging trends in the area of personnel for 2023. For example, there has been a significant reduction in the number of soldiers leaving the military unplanned, down by as much as 28% compared to the level before the coronavirus pandemic.

Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) is delighted: "The biggest challenge for our department in the coming years, apart from procurement, will be personnel. This concerns both the professional soldiers and civilian staff, but also the militia in particular." However, the generals are aware that they are not in a sprint, but at the start of a marathon. In addition to the current salary increase of up to 9.71% for all personnel, performance-related rewards and awards in particular are intended to increase the incentive.

Women make an important contribution to military capability
More "woman power" is the name of the game in Denmark. After Sweden and Norway, the third Scandinavian country is now introducing compulsory military service for women from 2026. In Austria, however, the country is still relying on the voluntary factor: since April 1, 2023, women in Austria have had the opportunity to complete basic military service of their own accord. Within twelve months, 234 women have already signed up and 136 have already joined up. Trend: rising sharply!