The Objective reports that national defense does not depend only on weapons, technology or international alliances. Above all, it depends on the people. And in this area, the Army Spanish is beginning to show symptoms of structural weakness. The latest official data confirms that fewer and fewer young people consider military life as a viable professional option.
The notice does not come from an external source, but from the system itself. The Observatory of Military Life, an advisory body to the Cortes Générales, warned in its latest report of a continued decline in requests for access to the armed forces. The document can be consulted at the Ministry of Defense.
A generational change that impacts the Army
The drop in the number of applicants does not respond to any factor. The report describes a profound change in the professional aspirations of new generations, who increasingly value geographic stability, personal balance and medium-term salary projection.
In this context, the Army is clearly at a disadvantage compared to other sectors, both public and private, which offer more predictable trajectories and less conditioned by compulsory mobility.
Fewer candidates, less margin of selection
During 2024, access to officer academies recorded one of the lowest ratios in recent history. The number of candidates per position has been reduced to approximately three and a half candidates, a figure which significantly limits selection capacity.
Just ten years ago, the scenario was radically different. In 2013, figures were recorded that increased eight times the current figures, which allowed for very competitive processes and a more demanding selection.
The problem worsens among non-commissioned officers
The loss of attractiveness is not limited to officer ranks. Access to non-commissioned officers, traditionally one of the pillars of Armyalso shows signs of wear. Even the significant increase in the number of places offered has not succeeded in reversing the trend.
In several recent calls, positions have remained vacant, a situation which was exceptional just a few years ago and which is now starting to become normal.
A direct impact on operations
The lack of NCOs is not a minor problem. This scale constitutes the operational axis of the units, the link between strategic planning and execution on the ground. Its weakening compromises the effectiveness and internal cohesion of the Army.
The Observatory warns that, without corrective measures, the deficit could be transferred to the command structure in the medium term.
Spain, below its partners in number
The international context adds to the pressure of the problem. Spain has a military per capita ratio lower than the European Union and NATO averages. This gap contrasts with the commitments made in terms of collective security.
The military career law sets a maximum of 140,000 active military personnel, a goal that experts say will be difficult to achieve if the underlying problem is not addressed: the lack of attractiveness of the professional model.
Return of compulsory service excluded
Despite the reopening of the debate in several European countries, Spain does not plan to reinstate compulsory military service. The government maintains its commitment to professional armed forces, even if the report highlights the need to adapt the model to current social and work reality.
The future of Army The Spanish will not only decide in offices or international summits, but in its ability to connect with a generation that today looks in another direction.
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