An information session about the military service year at the Kinepolis cinema complex in Ghent attracted over 680 attendees on Saturday.
The first session, held at 9:00, saw 258 participants, and two additional sessions later in the day pushed the total number beyond 680 interested young people. The Ministry of Defence described the turnout as a significant success.
Defence Minister Theo Francken (N-VA) attended the first session to highlight the importance of the military service year. The programme is promoted as a preparatory pathway for young people considering a military career or a civilian role in the security sector.
The military service year offers participants a 12-month engagement with the Belgian armed forces, allowing them to develop skills such as discipline, teamwork, and leadership while gaining insight into defence-related professions.
Further information sessions are planned in Leuven on 23 November, in Bruges on 29 November, and in Neder-over-Heembeek and Hasselt on 7 December.
