Austrian Armed Forces Record Increase in Percentage of Women

The proportion of women in the armed forces is increasing slowly. Since the introduction of voluntary basic military service for women two years ago, the proportion of female soldiers in the armed forces has risen from 4.3 to around 6 percent. This is according to a report from the Ministry of Defense on the military services of women in the years 2023 and 2024. As of the cut-off date of December 31, 2024, 818 female soldiers were in service with the armed forces.

2023 Brought Change

Since 1998, women have been able to become professional soldiers. Since April 1, 2023, they can perform voluntary basic military service. In 2023, 497 women registered for this, 195 of whom began basic military service and 65 were taken into employment. In 2024, 508 registered, of whom 261 began service and 141 were taken into employment.

Conscription for Women?

The three-party coalition has set out in the government program to further increase the proportion of women in the armed forces. Most recently, the president of the Austrian Officers' Society, Erich Cibulka, in light of the personnel problems in the armed forces, advocated considering conscription for women. However, the proposal is currently not supported by a majority. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) rejects conscription for women as long as full equality has not been achieved.

(APA/Red)

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