In a public statement released by the Ministry of Defence on Monday, 30 September, Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky of Hungary lauded the success of the Szeretem, megvédem! (I love it, I protect it!) programme looking to add new recruits to the Hungarian territorial reserve units.

The initiative was announced back in June of this year, a joint effort by the Ministry of Defence and the Hungarian Defence Forces. According to the press release, over 2,000 new men and women have decided to enlist to the reserves since the start of the programme. Minster Szalay-Bobrovniczky welcomed the development, stressing that Hungary did not need to implement a draft to get new people to join the army.

‘Since the Hungarian Territorial Reserve System was launched [in 2023], never before have so many volunteers joined the armed forces in such a short time. Hungary did not have to draft its young people, but invited them. An invitation to a mission of a lifetime, to a community where belonging, shared responsibility, and comradery are essential and indispensable,’ the Minister is quoted in the Ministry’s communiqué.

He goes on to explain that in peacetime, members of the Territorial Defence Units in the army are tasked with such important duties as border patrol and flood control. During the recent flooding of the Danube River, thousands of enlisted men and women were mobilized to contain the overflowing river, which resulted in the flood passing without any loss of human life and mitigated damage to property.

‘Hungary did not draft its young people into the army but invited them’

‘The idea of “I love it, I protect it!” is about reservists knowing and being able to protect their immediate environment, being prepared for crisis situations, and being able to respond to events in a decisive and organized way, for the safety of all,’ Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky added.

The Hungarian Defence Forces currently has 41,600 active and 20,000 reserve personnel enlisted.

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