On Thursday morning, the vice president of the Professional Union of the Luxembourg Army (SPAL) discussed current issues at the Herrenberg base in an interview on RTL Radio.
The Luxembourg Army is in a strong position in terms of budget and mission diversity, explained Braquet. However, there is still a lot of room for improvement in the areas of recruitment and the overall desirability of the profession.
“Having staff shortages has almost become a tradition in the Luxembourg Army”, stated Braquet during the interview. Not enough people apply, which in return puts the accomplishment of their missions at risk.
The SPAL vice president argued that the entry exam represents an issue, same as the direct competition from the extensive recruitment of the Grand Ducal Police. The union therefore hopes that the planned reform of the army law will help improve work conditions at the Herrenberg base.
Braquet explained that not enough people who enter the Army also choose to pursue a military career. At the moment, the armed forces consist of 1,000 people, out of whom 400 are professional soldiers. The rest are volunteers and civilians. Braquet estimates that an additional 100 soldiers and 50 professional soldiers are currently needed.
Asked about the planned Belgian-Luxembourgish battalion for the United Nations, Braquet expressed SPAL’s general support for the initiative. However, it is not yet clear how many Luxembourgish soldiers will be needed. Minister of Defence François Bausch and Commander-in-Chief Steve Thull both announced different numbers.
The final issue that Braquet addressed during the interview was the so-called Rico law, which regulates the compensation of soldiers’ training hours. In 2019, the Confederation of Public Servants (CGFP) and Minister Bausch came to an agreement, but three years later, it seems to have become void. One hour now only counts as 30 minutes, which SPAS intends to fight.