Austria's militia receives a new upswing: Expert group plans reforms!

Austria's militia receives a new upswing: Expert group plans reforms!

Österreich, Österreich - On March 24, 2025, the Austrian government decided to establish an expert group to strengthen the militia. This measure takes place against the background of growing demands for mandatory military exercises and a possible extension of the service time in the military. Major General Erwin Hateseder, the militia officer of the Ministry of Defense, calls for regular military exercises to ensure the operational ability of the militia. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner emphasizes the central role of the militia for the country's willingness to defend.

The discussion about the extension of the military service from six to eight months and the potential increase in community service to one year is also led in this context. The latter meets with a positive response from social organizations. The group of experts should deliver initial results by autumn, which should serve as the basis for future decisions. kosmo reports of these developments.

claims for mandatory exercises

The Austrian officers' Society (ÖOG) criticizes the suspension of the mandatory military exercises and calls for the return to the 6+2 model of the military service. This model includes a six-month basic military service and the following militia exercises over the years. Brigadier Erich Cibulka, President of the ÖOG, emphasizes the constitutional necessity of general conscription. He also expressed positive feedback on the government program for national defense because it addresses many of the ÖOG claims. ÖOG has highlighted the importance of financial support in this context, since little can currently be implemented due to the narrow budget.

In addition, Cibulka criticizes the 6+0 model, which leads to the training of the soldiers, but does not provide them for exercises. According to experts, a massive expansion of the militia associations and the reintroduction of military exercises are necessary to ensure the availability and usability of the soldiers.

strategy change and resource management

The Austrian Armed Forces (ÖBH) has learned significant savings in recent years, which has led to inadequate reserves. The focus was mainly on missions abroad and reduced forces in Germany. According to Truppendienst , the ÖBH must be able to provide quick answers if other state funds are not sufficient.

In order to address the challenges of security provision, necessary resources must be procured early and staff have to be recruited and trained. The Federal Constitution calls for the strengthening of the militia associations and the guarantee of a short basic military service with recurring exercises. A paradigm shift in the accompanying measures is considered essential, whereby support from the economy and tax relief is also considered necessary.

Overall, it shows that there is an urgent need to rethink and adapt the strategic structures of the Federal Army in order to sustainably strengthen Austria's security situation. The step to set up an expert group is a first sign in this direction.