The Austrian government intends to increase military service requirements to bolster national security, with changes expected to take effect in 2027.

Austria has announced plans to extend compulsory military service as part of a strategy to strengthen national security in response to the war in Ukraine. The government intends to add three months of mandatory military exercises to the existing six-month service period. These changes, which require a two-thirds parliamentary majority to pass as constitutional law, are expected to take effect at the beginning of 2027.

New Military Service Requirements

Under the proposed reforms, conscripts will be required to complete three months of military exercises within 10 years, generally before reaching the age of 30. Lieutenant General Erwin Hameseder, who led the expert commission on the reform, stated the goal is to reduce the military's deployment response time from two months to a matter of days. While the commission had proposed an 'Austria Plus' model consisting of eight months of service and two months of exercises, the government opted for a political compromise.

Civilian Service and Labor Concerns

Austria currently mandates universal conscription for male citizens starting at age 17, offering a choice between six months of military service or nine months of civilian service. While civilian service will remain at its current length, the government may make a two-month extension compulsory if the number of annual military conscripts drops below 15,000. Some commentators have suggested the military service requirement also serves to address labor shortages in sectors like emergency services and healthcare.