An Austrian sniper team clears a trench during the U.S. Army Europe and Africa European Best Sniper Team Competition in the 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, Grafenwoehr, Germany, Nov. 21, 2025. The USAREUR-AF EBST Competition held annually at 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area builds military readiness through realistic and challenging training scenarios, fosters military partnership and esprit des corps, and promotes NATO interoperability with Allied and Partner nations. (U.S. Army photo by Markus Rauchenberger)

Austria’s coalition government has approved a reform extending compulsory military service from six to nine months from January 2027. The additional three months will combine unit training immediately after basic service with mandatory reserve exercises completed over the following ten years. The government expects the system to produce around 150,000 trained reservists during that period.

Conscripts’ monthly pay will rise to €1,000 and paid leave will be introduced. Alternative civilian service will initially remain nine months, with an optional two-month extension. From 2028, however, it will automatically increase to eleven months if annual military enlistment falls more than 7.5% below the government’s target of 15,000 conscripts, effectively penalising conscientious objectors whenever the armed forces encounter recruitment shortages.

The reform still requires a two-thirds parliamentary majority, meaning the governing coalition must secure support from either the Greens or the Freedom Party.

Source: Militär Aktuell, 27 July 2026