Denmark announced on Tuesday, July 1, the extension of the compulsory military service and for women. The measure comes against the background of intensifying concerns about European security and the need to strengthen military capacity.
Denmark wants to reach 7,500 recruits by 2033. PHOTO: EPA / SENG MAI
According to a law adopted in June 2023, all Danish women who turn 18 after July 1, 2025 will be obliged to register for evaluating military aptitudes, as well as men. So far, women could volunteer to follow military service, representing about 24% of recruits last year, Reuters reports.
“In the situation in the world we are in now, it is necessary to have more recruits and I think that women should contribute to this, as well as men,” said a young recruit from the Royal Guard, Katrine, for Reuters.
According to the Danish system, volunteers have priority for enrollment, and the rest are selected by a lottery system. Women will be included in this mechanism under the same conditions as men – each young or young will receive a number that will decide whether or not to be called to the military service.
The Danish authorities have already begun to adapt the army's infrastructure and equipment to meet the needs of female recruits.
“There are different things that need to be improved, especially the equipment. At this time, it is done for men, so maybe the backpacks are a little too big and the uniforms,” Katrine added.
In addition to the extension of the military service, Denmark intends to gradually increase its duration from four to 11 months to 2026 and increase the number of recruits from about 5,000 to 7,500 until 2033.
