President Pavel signs military incentive law, offering recruits up to CZK 1 million

President Petr Pavel signed an amendment to the Act on Professional Soldiers on Monday, increasing recruitment bonuses for new soldiers, in some cases up to CZK 1 million. The legislative change aims to attract new personnel to the military and retain existing service members.

The Castle announced the signing of the amendment on its website Monday, noting that the legislation was approved by the Czech Senate on March 19. Soldiers will be eligible for higher benefits beginning in July, with the Ministry of Defense allocating CZK 375 million for implementation.

According to Novinky.cz, Defense Minister Jana Černochová, during the Senate’s March deliberations, said the amendment was urgently needed, as the military has been struggling with recruitment.

The amendment increases the maximum recruitment bonus fourfold, from the current cap of CZK 250,000 to CZK 1 million. However, officials do not expect the highest amount to be granted immediately. New recruits will receive their bonus as a lump sum, but only after completing a three-month probationary period.

“A contribution of up to CZK 450,000 will be provided to university-educated applicants who commit to a seven-year service contract,” the ministry said. “The goal is to attract mid-level professionals in electrical engineering, IT, and mechanical engineering, as well as university students in IT, healthcare, or mechanical engineering.”

The amendment also expands financial incentives for soldiers, including higher stabilization, housing, and commuting allowances.

The stabilization allowance, which currently stands at CZK 7,000 per month, could increase up to tenfold in exceptional cases. Previously, the maximum increase was limited to four times the base amount.

Housing support will also see a boost. Soldiers who currently receive up to twice the base housing allowance of CZK 3,000 per month—depending on their service location—will now be eligible for up to three times that amount.

To ease travel burdens, the military will reimburse soldiers stationed away from their residence for up to 18 round trips per month, a significant increase from the previous limit of five. Additionally, troops will receive a fixed travel allowance, eliminating the need to submit monthly reimbursement requests.

As of early last year, the Ministry of Defense had 27,826 professional soldiers and 4,266 active reserve members. However, according to Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka, the actual number of active service members is closer to 24,000.

The Czech military aims to expand to 30,000 professional soldiers and 10,000 active reserves by 2030. Additionally, NATO’s strategic goals indicate a potential need for up to 37,500 soldiers to meet collective defense and deterrence requirements.

The amendment also revises criminal background requirements for new recruits. It reinstates the principle that most convictions will not automatically disqualify applicants once they have been legally exonerated. However, individuals convicted of particularly serious crimes or those stripped of their military rank by a court ruling will remain ineligible for service.

The Czech Republic’s efforts to modernize its military extend beyond financial incentives for soldiers. Alongside new recruitment and stabilization bonuses, the government’s increased defense spending aims to bolster research and development, fostering innovation in military technology, Defense Minister Jana Černochová said Tuesday.

She made the remarks during a discussion with university representatives at the Czech Technical University in Prague.

"To be competitive, the Czech defense industry must have not only sufficient financial resources and investment but also high-quality research and development that will help it innovate and improve its potential," Černochová said.

By strengthening cooperation between the military and universities, the country seeks to develop cutting-edge capabilities in fields such as artificial intelligence, drone warfare, and space technology.

These parallel investments in personnel and technology reflect a broader strategy to enhance the Czech military’s readiness and global competitiveness. In March, the government decided to gradually increase defense spending by 0.2 percent of gross domestic product annually until 2030, ultimately reaching 3 percent of GDP.