Portugal Armed Forces are finally seeing an increase in recruitment. Defence Minister Nuno Melo announced this positive change to the parliamentary committee on National Defence. Recruitment numbers are up for the first time in nearly a decade. The decline in military recruitment seems to have ended after years of struggle.
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Portugal Armed Forces Recruitment Increase
Portugal’s Armed Forces have faced a big drop in new recruits since 2015. In 2015, there were around 29000 military personnel. This number had fallen by nearly 6000 by early 2024. This decrease raised serious concerns about the strength of Portugal’s military. Fewer young people were signing up which is leading to a critical gap in the military workforce. Now, the trend is reversing.
Minister Melo said:
After eight years of recruitment and retention figures always falling, we have now seen, for the first time in many years, a reversal of this cycle
Melo shared that the Army had 300 more applications in October 2024 than in December last year. The Navy also showed positive numbers with 125 to 150 more personnel staying than leaving. The Air Force saw more applications this year than in the past two years. These changes suggest a renewed interest in military careers among young people.
He said:
I would like to inform you that, as far as the Army is concerned, in October 2024, we registered 300 more applications than in December last year. In the Navy, for the first time in a long time, there is a positive balance, in the balance between exits and entries, which will be between 125 and 150 military personnel. And the information we have from the Air Force is that there will be more candidates this year than in the last two years
New Government Measures
Melo attributes his rise in applications to recent government actions. Since taking office in 2024, the government has focused on making military service more appealing. Melo stated that the government has done more to support military personnel in 115 days than the previous administration did in nearly eight years.
Minister added:
This government has done in 115 days what the PS government didn’t do in 2,920 days
The government’s key move was updating the military condition supplement. This is a financial benefit for military members that has not changed in years. By improving pay and benefits, the government has made military careers more attractive.
Better pay and conditions are encouraging people to join especially young people. Melo believes that these changes have restored pride in serving in the Armed Forces. He argued that young people now view the military as a valuable career choice.
Melo agreed when someone asked if these new measures directly caused the recruitment increase. He described this growth as a clear sign that young people see the military as an honorable profession.
30000 Personnel Target By 2026
The government hopes to bring military numbers back up to 30000 by the end of its term. This target would return Portugal’s military personnel to levels last seen in 2015. Melo is hopeful about this recent growth but remains cautious.
He explained that time is needed to know if this trend will hold. Sustaining these numbers will be essential to meet the government’s goal.
Melo emphasized:
I think that actions have consequences, for better or for worse. I think there’s a cause and effect relationship between the measures and the reversal of the cycle because they help to create another perception of the dignity of the Armed Forces and, particularly concerning young people, the conviction that now it is worth it
Improving pay, working conditions, and respect for military service are all designed to keep current members satisfied and prevent them from leaving which is also important. The goal is not only to attract new recruits but also to strengthen the existing workforce.
Support For Military Personnel
The government is working to improve support for military personnel. One key focus is the lengthy process for disability status applications which currently takes more than a year. To address this, Melo announced a plan to create a task force aimed at reducing this wait time to 30 days.
Melo said:
I want to announce that we are currently working on the possibility of speeding up a protocol so that, through a task force, all these pending requests, which could take more than a year, can be done in 30 days
This task force will consist of legal experts who can quickly review applications. Melo explained that this group will be trained to handle complex cases efficiently. Speeding up the process would be a relief for military personnel who are waiting for support due to injuries or disabilities. By resolving these cases faster, the government hopes to boost satisfaction and morale among members.
