Luxembourg Army Swears in 53 New Soldiers

On Friday 9 January 2026, the Luxembourg Army held its 207th solemn oath-taking ceremony for recruits at the Grand Duke Jean Barracks in Härebierg (Diekirch).

A total of 53 volunteer soldiers took the oath after successfully completing their four-month basic training. They pledged to uphold the Constitution, the laws of the State and military regulations, and to faithfully serve the Crown and the flag in the performance of their military service.

The ceremony was held indoors due to rainy and snowy weather. Among those present were Yuriko Backes, Luxembourg's Minister of Defence, General Steve Thull, Chief of Staff of the Luxembourg Army, Colonel Alain Schoeben, Commander of the Forces, Deputy Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and members of the Luxembourg Army.

In her address, Minister Backes described the ceremony as an opportunity to "celebrate and honour" the new soldiers as they take this "first important step" in their military careers. She thanked them, on behalf of the government, for their commitment to protecting the country, its democracy, society and values.

The minister underlined the importance of maintaining a well-equipped and well-structured army, stressing the need to recruit, invest and make the army more attractive. She highlighted the government's ambitious recruitment package, which includes significant financial incentives as well as improved infrastructure and facilities. Minister Backes also referred to ongoing efforts to modernise equipment and develop new capabilities.

Also during the ceremony, the recruits received the "fourragère", the outward symbol marking their transition into fully-fledged soldiers.

A prize ceremony also recognised recruits' outstanding performance during basic training. Micha Welter was awarded first place overall and first in sports, Robert Vieira Antunes ranked second overall and Tom Scholtes placed third overall, while Deborah Heintz received the award for best shooter.

The ceremony featured music by the Luxembourg Military Band, which also performed the national anthem towards the end.

Among the 53 newly sworn-in soldiers were 49 Luxembourgers and three Portuguese nationals, including four women, five elite athletes (Micha Welter - judo; Tom Scholtes - table tennis; Ivor Kuresevic - basketball; David Lang - triathlon; Gene Wantz - table tennis) and one military musician.