CAN WE WIN THIS WAR? SLOVENIAN ARMED FORCES RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION CHALLENGES 15 YEARS LATER

Abstract

Povzetek V članku so predstavljeni izzivi in uspešnost zaposlovanja in zadrževanja vojaških oseb v Slovenski vojski ter vloga ugodnosti in nadomestil v nekaterih članicah Nata. Prehod na poklicno sestavo Slovenske vojske in njen zakonodajni okvir ne podpirata zaključka njene profesionalizacije. Petnajst let po opustitvi naborniškega sistema se je Slovenska vojska znašla pred veliko dilemo glede svoje funkcionalnosti. Do tega je prišlo zaradi neuspešnosti pri pridobivanju in zadrževanju kadra. Zaradi nizke stopnje popolnjenosti enot v SV in posledično tudi njihove nizke stalnosti in stabilnosti vojaške enote vse težje dosegajo visoke standarde usposobljenosti in s tem tudi sposobnost izvajanja osnovnega poslanstva – sposobnosti za bojevanje. Slovenska vojska je kot organizacija izpostavljena velikemu demografskemu in ekonomskemu pritisku trga delovne sile in danes ni prepoznana kot zanimiv zaposlovalec za mlade. Ne le za svoj nadaljni razvoj, temveč celo obstoj, nujno potrebuje nov družbenopolitični konsenz v družbi. Ključne besede: Slovenska vojska, oborožene sile, zagotavljanje virov, zaposlovanje in zadrževanje kadra v vojski, beneficije in nadomestila.   Abstract This article presents the challenges and the success of recruitment and retention of military personnel in the SAF. It also addresses the role of benefits and compensations in some NATO member states. The transition to a professional army in the SAF and its legal framework do not support the conclusion of its professionalization. Fifteen years after abandoning the conscription system, the SAF has come to a big dilemma regarding its functionality. This has occurred because the recruitment and retention of its members have not been successful. Due to a high level of vacancies in SAF units and consequently their low continuity and stability, military units have great difficulty achieving high capacity standards and consequently the competence of carrying out their main mission – combat ability. The SAF as an organization is exposed to important demographic and economic pressure of the labour market and is nowadays not perceived as an alluring employer for young people. It is, therefore, in urgent need of a new socio-political consensus within the society, not only to ensure its future development, but also its sheer existence. Key words: Slovenian Armed Forces, armed forces, provision of resources, military recruitment and retention, benefits and compensations.