Recruitment, Retention, and the Willingness to Defend: The Social Foundations of Military Mobilization

Recruitment and retention of military personnel is facing big challenges, such as changing the nature of warfare (drones), demographic changes related to increasing diversity and older generations, and in some countries a return of conscription. But also, all volunteer forces have problems finding enough personnel for the armed forces. On the one hand, armed forces face the challenge of recruiting enough personnel. These personnel must possess specific skills to survive on the modern battlefield. The shift in warfare since the war in Ukraine—with the use of drones and missiles—is also influencing young people’s decisions to join the military. Military personnel are a critical component for the effectiveness of the armed forces. On the other hand, armed forces also face the challenge of retaining personnel. The civilian job market offers an alternative, particularly given the growing demand for security personnel in a wide variety of fields. To remain competitive, the armed forces must offer their personnel good working conditions. However, this is only possible to a limited extent within the armed forces.

This session aims to examine key recruitment and retention challenges facing today’s modern militaries.