The article analyses how young people in Slovenia perceive the military profession as one of the possible career options, with the author approaching the issue through the lens of their security perceptions and employment-related rationality. The article is based on the findings and results of the development, research and innovation activity Military Professions and Youth in the Republic of Slovenia (VPM-RS), funded by the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia between 2024 and 2026.

The article combines findings from research conducted on two non-representative samples of young people with an analysis of the labour market and the recommendations developed within the VPM-RS project. The findings indicate that the legitimacy of the armed forces and young people’s willingness to participate in the defence of the country in the event of a direct threat do not automatically translate into an interest in pursuing military service as a profession.

Protecting family, friends and one’s own territory emerges as an important motivation for participating in the defence of the country. However, when considering professional employment in the Slovenian Armed Forces, young people also take into account factors such as pay, job stability, opportunities for professional development, workplace relationships, and work-life balance.

Vol. 7 No. 5, 2026: Generacija Z, vojaški poklic in varnostne zaznave v Sloveniji (Juvan) [SLO]

Author:

    • Assoc. Prof. Dr Jelena Juvan is a lecturer at the Chair of Defence Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana. Between 2024 and 2026, she served as the head of the research team responsible for implementing the development, research and innovation activity Military Professions and Youth in the Republic of Slovenia (VPM-RS), funded by the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia during the same period. The research team also included: Assist. Prof. Dr Miha Šlebir (Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana), Assist. Prof. Dr Andreja Živoder (Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana), Živa Brodar, MA (Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana), Gašper Ferme, MA, Teaching Assistant (Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana), Neža Geč (Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana), Dr Stella Aslani (Guardiaris), Tina Zlobko Beretič (Guardiaris), Dr Tjaša Bartolj (Institute for Economic Research), and Dr Nika Murovec (Institute for Economic Research).

* Views and opinions of the authors of this paper do not necessarily correspond to the views of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Slovenia.