Defence, call for 2,300 Army volunteers: the requirements and how to apply

The ministry has published the public notice for the inclusion of young people aged 18 to 24 in initial employment. This is the first of three blocks that will lead to the recruitment of seven thousand people. The incorporation is expected from May 2027

The Ministry of Defense has published the announcement, dated 13 October, of a competition for the inclusion of 2,300 positions as "Initial Volunteers" in the Italian army. This is the first of three blocks, expected in 2027, which overall will lead to the recruitment of 7 thousand people. Young people between 18 and 24 years of age can send applications, the request is electronic via the competitions.difesa.it portal.

The requirements to enter the competition

As stated in article 2 of the announcement on the requirements for participation in the competition, anyone who wishes to apply must be an Italian citizen, enjoy civil and political rights and be at least 18 years of age and not over 24 years of age. In practice, those born between 11 November 2002 and 11 November 2008, inclusive, can send the application. Furthermore, one must not have been convicted of non-negligent crimes and not have been dismissed, excused or declared forfeited from employment in a Public Administration. Finally, it is necessary to have obtained a lower secondary education diploma (formerly lower middle school); not having been subjected to prevention measures; having engaged in incensurable conduct, as deduced from the usual information; not having behaved towards democratic institutions that do not give safe assurance of scrupulous fidelity to the Republican Constitution and to the reasons of state security; physio-psycho-attitudinal suitability for recruitment into the Armed Forces as a Volunteer in permanent service; negative outcome of diagnostic tests for alcohol abuse and for the use, even sporadic or occasional, of narcotic substances as well as for the use of psychotropic substances for non-therapeutic purposes; not be in service as a VFI in the Armed Forces.

How to send the application

The application must be submitted exclusively through the ufficio.difesa.it portal, by logging in via SPID or Electronic Identity Card (CIE), by 11 November 2026. The incorporation of the 2,300 candidates is expected approximately starting from May 2027. The candidates will be assessed at the Selection Centers of Foligno, Bari, Milan, Palermo and Rome, on the basis of physical efficiency tests, checks will subsequently be carried out psycho-physical through medical visits and specialist tests. Finally, an aptitude test is required to assess suitability for the service.

What does the volunteer do on initial duty

The Volunteer on Initial Service is a soldier who chooses to serve in the Armed Forces for an initial period of three years, during which professional skills are acquired and, subsequently, he can try to access permanent roles in the Army or the Police Forces. The volunteer's duties depend on the department of assignment, the specialization and the operational needs of the Army. At the beginning of the service, you attend a training period in a volunteer training regiment to learn the basics of military life. The 2,300 places offered by the November competition are divided as follows: 2,212 for "employment assignment to be assigned by the Armed Forces"; 5 for the "Infrastructural Electrician" job assignment; 5 for the "Infrastructural Plumbing" job assignment; 10 for "Bricklayer" employment assignment; 10 for "Carpenter" employment position; 8 for "Blacksmith" employment assignment; 10 for the "Mechanic of vehicles and platforms" job; 10 for "Equestrian Explorer/Equestrian Artilleryman" employment assignment; 5 for the "Scout for mounted marching band" job assignment and 25 for the "1st level aircraft technician" job assignment.