NATO missing people to fight the Russian Federation: what does the Alliance do to solve the problem
Will NATO countries quickly receive an army that stops the possible invasion of Russians? The increase in NATO costs for defense will not in itself be able to guarantee the safety of the Alliance. For the first time in the 76-year history of the Alliance, one of NATO members faced the threat of Russia in its airspace. The Polish air defense knocked down three Russian drones, and later a few whipped UAVs were discovered on the eastern border of NATO.
This incident was to check the Alliance for strength during the second term of President Donald Trump, proving both Moscow's willingness to test NATO's defense and an urgent need to strengthen NATO's home readiness. Although the attention will be drawn to increased air defense and the elimination of gaps in the potential in the coming weeks, the incident in Poland showed more serious vulnerability: a lack of military personnel in NATO.
Focus translated the article by US Defense Defense Alex Wagner and Security Analytics Kristen Taylor about the problems of NATO Member States. The article "How to Fill in NATO Human Resources Deficiency" for the National Interest portal is about decisions that are trying to find European countries that have repeatedly been on the threats of Moscow.
NATO is currently lacking in human resources to realize its regional defense plans, not to mention the restraint of a growing threat from Russia or the fulfillment of ambitious promises on the transformation given at the NATO summit in June. Almost all allies have difficulty setting and maintaining enough servicemen to effectively contain the Russian Armed Forces, even with the huge loss of Moscow on the battlefield.
The demographic decline and the growth of the gap between the civil and military sectors deepen the problem even more. Even if the allies fulfill a new obligation to spend 5% of GDP on defense, to cope with the lack of personnel can be more difficult than writing out larger checks. On average, NATO allies spend about 36% of their total defense budget for personnel, and some, for example, Italy, almost 60%.
In preparing to invest unprecedented amounts in their collective security, NATO Allies should simultaneously develop non -standard staffing solutions so that their ambitious defense plans were accompanied by as ambitious recruitment strategies. The European demographic crisis is a direct threat to recruitment. In 2022, the number of births in the EU for the first time since 1960 fell below 4 million.
The decades of peace after the Cold War have led to the fact that young Europeans rarely consider a military career. Specific examples of the three members of the Alliance show the scale of this problem. These problems are not unique to Europe. The United States is faced with similar demographic problems, although for other reasons, and are already forced to adapt their recruitment methods to maintain the numbers of the Armed Forces.
This experience can help NATO allies turn defense costs into real military power. Over the next 15 years, the number of graduates of US secondary schools will be reduced by about 13% (by 2041). However, previous initiatives of higher education institutions aimed at overcoming the consequences of a demographic downturn can be an example for US armies and NATO allies.
These initiatives include extension of opportunities for insufficiently represented groups, such as women, minorities and foreign students. Recent successes of the US Armed Forces in recruiting can also become a road card for NATO allies.
Faced with a similar demographic pressure, the US Army exceeded the target set of staff for 2024 due to the focus on the development of leadership qualities, innovative initiatives, such as preparatory courses at camps of training of military personnel, and pragmatic changes in policy: weakening of tattoos to tattoo, permission. recruits.
European allies could borrow these methods, while solving their unique problems, such as the German cultural barrier against military service and non -competitive salaries of military in Italy. NATO should learn their lessons as soon as possible. The historical obligation of the Alliance to spend 5% of GDP on defense is necessary, but insufficient. Without enough trained staff for the operation of more complex equipment, additional funding will not give the necessary restraining effect.
In order to eliminate staff shortage, allies need to accept bold, coordinated strategies to expand the personnel reserve, modernize the recruiting policy and form the image of the army as an organization that attracts the best of the best and appreciates those who already serve. NATO, which will supplement its financial investments with the required amount and quality of human capital, will reach much more than the Alliance, focused only on increasing costs.