Starlinger criticizes military service compromise as 'highly irresponsible'

According to Starlinger, the model currently favored by the government would cost a three-digit million sum more than extending basic military service to eight months. At the same time, he warned that six months of basic military service would not be enough to prepare soldiers for complex deployment scenarios. He described his warning as a clear signal to policymakers.

Background: The planned 6+3 model

After months of negotiations, the government leadership apparently agreed on a compromise: basic military service is to remain at six months, followed by mandatory militia exercises expected to last three months — the so-called 6+3 model. A graduated model in the Militia Commission's report also provides for a blocked troop exercise of two months within 18 months after basic military service, followed by militia exercises totaling 40 days.

Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) had originally insisted, together with Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP), on the 'Österreich Plus' model with eight months of basic military service and two months of militia exercises. Stocker recently argued that it was ultimately a semantic question whether one said '6+3' or '6+100,' since three months correspond to 92 days. He also demanded extending civilian service to twelve months in parallel to maintain balance.

Positions of the parties

The SPÖ, on the other hand, advocates a 6+2 model: six months of basic military service plus two months of militia exercises. According to the report, the ÖVP has made a move toward the SPÖ. The NEOS are reportedly in favor of a professional army.

According to the commission's experts, the advantages of the 6+100 model include relatively swift implementation; the disadvantages are considered to be the high costs and the fact that the two-month training block makes reintegration into the labor market more difficult. The expert commission sees itself overruled by the government's planned decision.

To illustrate his point, Starlinger drew a comparison: 'A police trainee may do a traffic check at most once in her second year of training, but not if a bank robbery is taking place.' With this, he sought to illustrate the lack of operational readiness. He also pointed out that even with the 8+2 model, Austria would still be at the lower end internationally when it comes to military service.

Demand for a vote without party whipping

For the upcoming decision, Starlinger called for a vote in the National Council without party whipping. He is convinced that such a vote would produce a majority for the model favored by the commission. Starlinger clearly supports a longer military service 'in the interest of Austria's operational readiness and security.' He rejected a popular vote on military service reform, arguing that the responsibility lies with the elected members of the National Council.

Criticism also came from the FPÖ: Defense spokesman Volker Reifenberger described the federal government's current negotiations as 'irresponsible maneuvering.' 'The government is knowingly ignoring that it is putting the safety of deployed soldiers and the operational readiness of our Bundesheer at risk,' he said.

Reactions from opposition parties and interest groups

Starlinger received backing from the Militia Association of Austria (MVÖ), which called on the government to implement the solution proposed by the expert commission. ÖVP defense spokesman Friedrich Ofenauer also declared that the People's Party clearly stands behind the 'Österreich Plus' model with 8 + 2 months for military service. The Bundesheer comprises around 55,000 soldiers, of whom some 35,000 are militia soldiers.

The expert commission on the Bundesheer had been agreed in the government program by the NEOS together with the ÖVP and SPÖ. Starlinger was originally nominated as an expert by the NEOS. According to the report, the government plans to announce the military service compromise at the Council of Ministers meeting at the end of summer.