In turn, the armies – landmen, sailors and airmen – launch recruitment campaigns. Each seeks not to “cannibalize” the other in a tight labor market for certain rare or in-demand specialties: digital technicians, nuclear engineers, aeronautics specialists or even catering staff… But the main difficulty does not lie in initial recruitment. It’s about “retention.” In 2023, 2,920 personnel have not renewed their contract with the army. There were only 1,683 in 2019.
On average, members of the military serve a year less than they did a decade ago. The ministry would like to reverse the trend and achieve 6 years of seniority on average for non-commissioned members compared to 4 years today, 20 years for non-commissioned officers compared to 18 years today and 27 years compared to 25 years for officers. . “The figures require us to act vigorously,” warned the Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu during his wishes in January. Last year, the army was short some 2,000 positions.
On Monday, he therefore presented a “360-degree loyalty” plan for a budget of 750 million euros for the period 2024 to 2030. Certain existing measures were already planned in the “family plan”. They aim to alleviate the constraints of military life, improve housing, infrastructure, the employability of spouses, access to care, or the schooling of children. These difficulties fuel a latent malaise among the military. Many of them talk about the weight of geographical singleness, the constraints of moving or salary frustration. The gaps are particularly problematic in the areas of cyber: if the attraction of missions makes it possible to recruit staff, they can claim much better salaries in the private sector after a few years. Within the army, we plead for this public the possibility of return trips.
Around forty measures will be implemented by the Ministry of the Armed Forces to make life easier for soldiers. Certain bonuses will now be included in military pensions, which already existed for gendarmes, police and customs officers, with an estimated annual cost of 75 million euros. The officers’ grids will also be revised faster than expected, from 2025, at a cost of an additional 70 million euros to the State. The grids of non-commissioned officers will be revised in 202 after those of non-commissioned officers in 2023. In 2025, the ministry will offer, with the CFC and mutual banks, guarantees and the granting of real estate loans at advantageous rates. In terms of health monitoring, often complicated by moves, treating doctors ready to reserve part of their patients for military personnel will be referenced. The command will also be made aware of how to better hear and react to the requests of the soldiers in their charge.
