The Belgian army has filled all 500 spots in the first military volunteer program.

The Belgian Minister of Defense, Theo Francken, announced that the army has selected 500 young people for its military volunteer program, following a selection process that involved over 3,000 candidates.

These volunteers, of whom only 80 are women, will begin their military service in the Land Forces, Air Forces, and Navy in the coming weeks. The program is part of a broader strategy by the Belgian government to strengthen the army, aiming to increase the personnel to 34,500 soldiers by 2035.

To attract more candidates, Belgium will relax the medical requirements for recruits, and the maximum age for reservists has been raised to 67 years. Although the recruitment campaign was initially viewed with skepticism, the minister ruled out a return to mandatory military service, considering it unfeasible.