At a press conference on Monday 20 June 2016, the Secretary of State for Defence, Francine Closener, introduced measures to make military recruitment more efficient in order to establish the necessary army staff to fulfil its national and international missions.
From the 2016/2017 school year, a preparatory course for the Luxembourg Army will be offered at the Lycée technique d'Ettelbruck for 17-24 year olds. Developed jointly by the Defense Directorate, the army and the direction of the Lycée, the course aims to prepare youth for the written and physical tests that form part of the admissions process for voluntary service.
Theoretical courses are provided four days a week at the Lycée technique d'Ettelbruck and are primarily based on the three languages of French, German and Luxembourgish and arithmetic. Sports training also prepares students for the physical fitness test. The instruction at the Diekirch military centre takes place in the form of one-day courses per week and covers non-specific and military lessons on basic social skills (team spirit, sense of organisation, etc.)
"Among the candidates running in the admissions tests for voluntary service, ony 60% pass the preliminary written tests, and thereafter, 35% of the remaining candidates fail the physical, psychological or medical tests," commented Secretary of State for Defence, Francine Closener. "The Copral improves recruitment by minimising these failure rates. In addition to a first familiarisation with the military, the course is also part of the fight against the phenomenon of dropping out by providing a pathway to professional life."
The courses are organised into quarters, with a recommended participation in two consecutive quarters to reach the necessary level of preparation for the selection tests. Admission to Copral is by application to the secretariat of the Lycée technique d'Ettelbruck (www.armee.lu).
The next selection tests will be held in October/November 2016 to integrate into the voluntary service of the army. From this time, the psychological test will be complemented by a new test that focuses on the skills and profile required for military activities. Successful preliminary tests will remain valid for three sessions. At a future session, a candidate who has failed physical, psychological or medical tests should therefore not repeat the written evaluations in which they were successful.
Each voluntary candidate admitted will then perform a basic instruction (IB) for four months. Following a study from the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), the sports programme and the determination of physical effort during the IB have been adapted to avoid orthopedix injuries, which are the leading cause of medical-based dropouts.
After 36 months devoted to military tasks, the volunteer soldier is assigned to a conversion service for a period of one year to prepare for their integration into the professional world. 88.5% of volunteers in the conversion stage find employment in the public and private sector or join a study programme.
In late September, a "Army Information Office" will open its doors at 15, boulevard Royal in Luxembourg City to inform the public, particularly young people, about the army's careers, missions, material and activities. The mission of this permanent infrastructure is complementary to promotional camapigns and information stands which are already regularly organised by the army in schools and shopping centres.
Photo by MECO
