Defence: call for applications for 2,300 Army volunteers on initial enlistment – here’s who can apply and how to do so

On 13 October, the Ministry of Defence published the notice of a public recruitment exercise to fill 2,300 posts for “Initial-term volunteers” in the Italian Army. This is the first intake for 2027.

Three intake rounds are planned for next year, which together will result in the recruitment of 7,000 volunteers into the Army on initial fixed-term contracts. As regards this first call for applications, applications must be submitted exclusively via the concorsi.difesa.it portal, logging in using SPID or an Electronic Identity Card (CIE), by 11 November. Those born between 11 November 2002 and 11 November 2008, inclusive, are eligible to apply. Enlistment for the first intake is tentatively scheduled to begin in May 2027.

Candidates will be assessed at the Selection Centres in Foligno, Bari, Milan, Palermo and Rome, on the basis of physical fitness tests; they will then undergo psychological and physical assessments comprising medical examinations and specialist tests. Finally, an aptitude test will be conducted to assess their suitability for service.

The 2,300 posts are broken down as follows: 2,212 for ‘posts to be allocated by the Armed Forces’; 5 for the post of ‘Infrastructure Electrician’; 5 for the post of ‘Infrastructure Plumber’; 10 for the post of ‘Bricklayer’; 10 for the post of ‘Joiner’; 8 for the post of ‘Blacksmith’;  10 for the post of “Vehicle and Platform Mechanic”; 10 for the post of “Mounted Scout/Mounted Artilleryman”; 5 for the post of ‘Mounted Band Scout’ and 25 for the post of ‘Level 1 Aircraft Technician’.

The second intake will comprise 2,300 places. Applications may be submitted from 25 January 2027 to 23 February for those born between 23 February 2003 and 23 February 2009, inclusive. Finally, the third intake will admit 2,400 people (applications may be submitted from 14 June to 13 July 2027, for those born between 13 July 2003 and 13 July 2009, inclusive).