NATO is experiencing a drain of seasoned soldiers due to the unattractive nature of military service

Amid the conflict in Ukraine, NATO forces are grappling with a shortage of personnel. The focus is not merely on recruiting new members but on retaining those soldiers and officers already serving, Politico reported.

European nations relying on professional armed forces are striving to enhance the appeal of military service. However, this proves challenging in the current climate of low unemployment, intense competition from the private sector and the prevalence of remote work, as outlined by the publication. A recent report presented to the German parliament revealed that 1,537 soldiers departed from the Bundeswehr in 2023. The additional challenge faced by Germany’s military: outdated infrastructure requiring approximately €50 billion for repairs.

French Minister of Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu acknowledged the widespread difficulty in retaining personnel across allied nations. Paris and other NATO members are seeking to incentivize military personnel with increased salaries and social benefits. While money is a significant factor in retaining personnel, the issue lies in the unappealing conditions of service within NATO armies, including chronic overtime, prolonged periods away from home and insufficient time off.