MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina military running short of officers and servicemen

The good economy and bad reputation is scaring recruit

Low unemployment, poor salaries and an overall political hostility climate towards the military in recent years have combined to see the Argentine Armed Forces recruitment fall drastically.

Recruitment faces growing obstacles in Argentina and compared for example to the United Kingdom, the percentage is less than half, points out political analyst Rosendo Fraga in his weekly column. The tendency became more and more evident with time since Argentina abolished compulsory military conscription in the nineties under former President Carlos Menem. Fraga says that since Argentina opted for the Anglo-Saxon model of a voluntary army following on recruitment incentives, mechanisms and opportunities offered for example by the British Armed Forces, an important ingredient is missing and that is making soldiers feel proud of their task. British servicemen are not paid proportionally more than in Argentina and face more serious risks such as Iraq and Afghanistan, but the recruitment rate is double Argentina's because becoming a member of the British Armed Forces is the main recruitment attraction. Fraga mentions that in 2002 the Argentine military academy had 1.321 postulants to become Army officers but the number collapsed to 591, less than half by 2007. Regarding petty officers the number of aspirants fell 25% and the rank and file volunteers 42%, compared to a year ago. "The Argentine Army runs the risk of not having enough officers or servicemen", says Fraga who underlines that loosing the "military spirit" can backfire for any country.