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The number of Navy personnel requesting reserve status has skyrocketed eightfold following the announcement of retirement reforms. The impasse between spending cuts and military recognition is creating tension and threatening the stability of the Navy. Find out what is behind this silent crisis that could affect national security.
A silent but expressive movement is taking place within the Brazil's navy.
Behind the scenes at the Naval Force, a strategy has been adopted by military personnel seeking to circumvent a controversial change in retirement rules.
The volume of requests to move to the reserve has skyrocketed, raising serious questions about the impact of the federal government's recent measures. But what is really behind this wave of evasion?
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According to information gathered by the journalist Beautiful Megale, from the newspaper The Globe, requests from Navy personnel to migrate to the reserve have increased eight times after discussions on retirement reform began. The full article can be found here.
The jump in reservation requests
The Navy commander, Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen, revealed that the rate of requests for the reservation has exploded in recent months.
According to him, the simple announcement of the possible change in retirement rules caused an exponential growth in requests.
— We have a very high dropout rate. The simple announcement that changes to retirement were being discussed already led to a very high number of transfers to reserves upon request. This was in the months of November and December. We had half a page of requests from military personnel and now we have four pages — said Olsen.
This sudden change caused apprehension in the Navy's upper echelons, as the early departure of experienced military personnel could compromise the efficiency of operations.
Training new staff requires time and resources, which makes filling these gaps a significant challenge for the Force.
The new retirement proposal
The spending cut package of the Ministry of Finance brought a significant proposal for military retirement.
The new rule sets the minimum age of 55 years so that members of the Armed Forces can be transferred to the reserve. Currently, the average retirement occurs between 52 and 53 years.
This measure is part of a larger government effort to contain public spending, but it has caused discomfort among the military.
For Olsen, military pay is already one of the lowest among government careers, and the lack of recognition makes the situation even worse.
— You don't compensate military personnel with a salary, but with a demonstration of recognition for the conditions to which they are subjected. If there is no such aspect of appreciation on the part of the Force commander, how are we going to demonstrate this gratitude to those who aim to serve society? — questioned the commander.
In addition to changing the minimum retirement age, the package provides for the review of additional benefits, such as aid and bonuses.
These changes raise an alert about the possibility of demotivating troops, especially in strategic areas such as maritime security and national defense operations.
Navy's reaction to the spending package
During the ceremony marking two years since the coup acts of January 8, in Planalto Palace, Olsen defended the video released by the Navy the previous month.
The recording, which questioned the alleged “privileges” of the military and encouraged enlistment, was interpreted as a veiled criticism of the fiscal adjustment package proposed by the Finance Minister, Fernando Haddad.
The video, however, was taken down after the negative repercussion.
The commander downplayed the discomfort caused by the material, attributing the reactions to misinterpretations.
According to him, the video was intended to promote military careers and attract new talent, but ended up being misunderstood by the public and the press.
Operational and strategic impacts
The significant increase in requests for reserves raises an alert about the impacts of austerity measures on the Armed Forces.
If the trend continues, there could be a drain on experience and leadership within the Navy, which could compromise operational efficiency.
With fewer experienced military personnel, complex maritime patrol and territorial defense missions may be affected.
Furthermore, the reduction in personnel could impact strategic programs, such as the development of submarines and the protection of maritime borders.
Another point of concern is the possible work overload for military personnel who remain active.
With fewer staff, teams may face longer working hours and an accumulation of tasks, which can result in decreased performance and increased stress.
Challenges for the future
It remains to be seen how the government and military commands will balance the need for fiscal adjustment with maintaining the motivation and recognition of the military.
The search for solutions that reconcile financial sustainability and professional development will be essential to avoid a collapse in troop morale.
Experts suggest that alternatives, such as training programs and non-financial incentives, could ease discontent and prevent new waves of dropouts.
The opening of dialogue between the government and representatives of Armed forces is also fundamental in this context.
Other proposals discussed include the creation of more attractive career plans and the review of benefits that encourage military personnel to remain in active service for longer.
The modernization of working conditions and investments in infrastructure are also highlighted as factors that could contribute to the retention of professionals.
Do you believe that changes to retirement could compromise the security and stability of the Armed Forces? Leave your opinion in the comments!
This high evasion rate will certainly have an impact on the force. The Armed Forces have now become an unimportant issue for presidents who take office. There have been years of no increase and deterioration in the infrastructure of accommodation in barracks and ships.
Valorization of the military, in the case of the enlisted, means improving salaries, valuing courses obtained outside the Navy, a decent service scale, updating the RDM and, mainly, renewing the commanders' games in order to adapt to the new realities of the troops.
THE PROBLEM FOR THE ARMED FORCES IS THAT WITH THIS HIGH EVASION RATE, SOCIETY REALIZES THAT THEIR SERVICES (AS THEY ARE CURRENTLY PERFORMED) WILL NOT MAKE ANY USE, THEY ARE INSIGNIFICANT.
WE MUST HAVE QUALIFICATION AND RELEVANCE.