Denmark rolls out gender-neutral conscription, 1,600 volunteers report for duty

Published Aug 6, 07:00 AM UTC

Denmark has begun the full rollout of an 11-month, gender-neutral conscription model designed to produce operational soldiers, driven by Russia's war in Ukraine and rising tensions with the United States over Greenland. On August 3, 2026, about 1,600 volunteers reported to 14 military sites as the first full cohort since a February pilot. The new model replaces the previous four-month term with five months of basic training and six months of operational service. Women turning 18 from July 1, 2025, now enter the same assessment and lottery system as men, with women already comprising about 20% of the 2026 intake. By 2033, Denmark aims to draft at least 6,500 conscripts annually into the armed forces, funded by a DKK 16 billion ($2.5 billion) defense agreement. The reform includes a new drone platoon under Special Operations Command. A politically sensitive early test will occur in Greenland, where over 100 conscripts will join Exercise Arctic Endurance for guard duties and cold-weather training, following US President Donald Trump's demands for US control of Greenland.