Voluntary military sign-ups drop to just 100 in a year
Interest in voluntary military service among Czechs is waning. Since its launch in summer 2023, sign-ups for the Ministry of Defense’s “list of volunteers” have dropped from nearly 230 in the first year to just 100 last year. Volunteers share health info and pledge to prioritize military exercises if security worsens.
An opportunity for people who are interested in defending Czechia but do not want to become professional soldiers and do not currently have time for training or joining the active reserves. This is a voluntary program launched by the Ministry of Defense two years ago in the summer.
But the list of volunteers is not very long yet. There are 329 people registered, according to Magdalena Dvořáková, spokesperson for the General Staff, who spoke to Czech Radio. Dvořáková specified, adding that 228 people managed to register in the first year:
"As of August 1, 2025, we have received a total of 722 applications for voluntary pre-assignment. Of these, 64 were from women. A total of 329 decisions have been registered and issued, of which 21 were issued to women."
A year ago, the army hoped that more applicants would sign up after the health requirements were relaxed in January 2025. However, this has not yet materialized. On the contrary, interest among Czechs has declined. Since last year, only a hundred people have been added to the "list of volunteers."
Voluntary pre-selection was intended to attract applicants who want to contribute, at least symbolically, to the defense of the country.
Enrollment in the registry means that they will provide the army with information about their health and at the same time commit to entering military training on a priority basis in the event of a deteriorating security situation. The government decides on its organization with the approval of the Chamber of Deputies.
A long-term problem
When asked whether the Ministry of Defense plans to make voluntary pre-selection more attractive and promote it more, its spokeswoman Simona Cigánková replied:
"The Ministry of Defense, in cooperation with the Czech Army, is constantly updating its activities to increase interest in joining the Czech Armed Forces and the defense capabilities of Czechia, which includes the institute of voluntary predestination. Activities to increase interest in joining the Czech Armed Forces and other forms of citizen involvement in national defense or cooperation with the army are adjusted according to current needs. The ministry's priority remains primarily the recruitment of new candidates interested in joining the army."
The defense sector has been struggling with a shortage of personnel for a long time. Last year, the army saw the highest number of departures in the last ten years. Similarly, the number of reserve soldiers, namely people who have undergone conscription and military training in the past, is declining. Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka repeatedly refers to the army's understaffing as a strategic problem:
“We are inevitably heading down the route that we will have new technology but no one will be able to operate it.”
A recent increase in their salaries is intended to prevent the departure of experienced soldiers and attract more new ones. Since July 1, all soldiers have been receiving at least 8,000 Czech crowns more.
