We need to renew the Armed Forces to adapt them to new international challenges, as recalled by Minister Crosetto, as well as by Chief of Staff of the Army on the occasion of the 163rd anniversary of the establishment of the Army. It is precisely the Italian Army, in fact, that requires the most extensive intervention regarding the increase in personnel and modernization of vehicles, not without starting to lower the average age of soldiers.
The rejuvenation of the Army is one of the battles carried out byTrade union association among military professionalsperfectly aligned with the positions of the Minister of Defense who reiterated on the occasion of the anniversary celebrations: “The selection will have to change, the average age will have to change”.
The challenge is to lower the average age of the Army
The 65% of the staff of the Italian Army has aaverage age between 30 and 50 years, but this is not even the most worrying data we read in the “2023 Army Report”. In fact, it is clear that i graduated soldierswhich also represent the largest part of the Force, have aaverage age of 40 years. Two interconnected problems thus collide: the high average age and the lack of personnel.
Minister Guido Crosetto also reports the average age of non-commissioned officers, which is between 47 and 49 years old, a level that the new service “will no longer be able to afford”. As anticipated, this critical issue has been brought to attention several times by the Aspmi, which asks for action on two fronts: introducing new staffalso through i Volunteers in initial and temporary detentionAnd review tasks for the more experienced personnel, who can thus put the knowledge and skills acquired through experience at the service of the Force without being excessively tested by physical effort.
Next to new recruiting modelwhich cannot leave without intervening on the economic treatment and on staff welfare, a review of the spill programs of staff so that older staff can continue their service until retirement in a manner compatible with age and experience, without suffering repercussions on their remuneration and social security treatment.
The soldier’s job is different from all others
Another fundamental element, underlined again by Minister Crosetto, is the specificity of the military of the Italian Army. The selection and overall treatment of these workers must in fact begin to take into account the absolute peculiarity of the tasks performed, which are different from any other type of public or even private employment.
Being a soldier, recalls the Minister of Defense, is “asking someone to be committed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to be willing to go from one part of the world to another, putting their life at risk” .
Although timely intervention is important for the overhaul of the Army, which currently relies mainly on the high preparation and dedication of the military and little else, it will be difficult to obtain immediate results from the point of view of rejuvenation. Crosetto has in fact confirmed the key role played by the new recruitment system Military Troops and therefore the development of the new training process for Volunteers on Initial Shutdownwhich however will only be able to produce appreciable results in the long term, with the natural exit of older staff upon reaching retirement age.
In the meantime, lowering the average age is desirable while addressing the lack of personnel.
Increase personnel and reservists
A problem shared by all the Armed Forces, as reiterated by the Admiral Giuseppe Cavo DragoneChief of Defense Staff, in a hearing at the Defense and Foreign Affairs commissions of the Chambers.
The Army Chief of Staff instead underlines the need to reintroduce the reservists, to be activated exclusively in case of serious need, but on which you can count in case of need. The importance of military reserve it has in fact been rediscovered in light of the international scenario and would also be useful in balancing national defense with international missions, especially if we think about the idea of forming a common European defense.
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