The “Summer Campus” organised by the Greek Army Cadets’ Military Academy that will be organised this year for the first time is not just a simple “familiarisation trip.” It is a programme designed to introduce young students to the structures, discipline, and aesthetics of the army. Under the guise of offering a “life experience” and “information about opportunities in the Armed Forces,” the state is inviting 16- and 17-year-olds to participate in military-style activities.
This is not an educational initiative, but a political project—one aimed at normalising arms use and militarisation in society, particularly in young people. The same logic can be seen in more structured forms across other European countries.
A pan-European trend with a clear target
- In France, the well-known Service National Universel—a voluntary period of military service—seeks to immerse teenagers in military camps, uniforms, and activities promoting “national cohesion.” More than 30,000 students participated in the SNU in 2023, and it is gradually being expanded with the goal of becoming compulsory.
- In Germany, youth officers (Jugendoffiziere) give over 7,000 presentations in schools each year to promote so-called ‘peacekeeping missions’ and the necessity of Germany’s military presence abroad. They aim to recruit young people into the army and teach lessons on NATO’s international operations.
- In Poland, the number of military high schools is on the rise, while the army runs informational programmes in other schools—including middle and even elementary schools—with the support of the government.
- In the United Kingdom, the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) trains students in military tactics, aiming to instill discipline and develop leadership skills. The CCF also provides both male and female students with weapons training.
- In Hungary, where two military high schools are currently in operation, the government has set a target of establishing ten by 2030.
The common ideological thread running through all these cases is clear: to mould the new European citizen into someone disciplined, nationalistic, and accepting of violence as a legitimate means of resolving conflicts. This unified trend, stretching from east to west, habituates young people to militarism and encourages them to see the army as an institution of “security and stability”—preparing them ideologically to accept war as a normal reality.
Rearm Europe: The EU Is Investing in War
The militarisation of education is not occurring in isolation. It is part of the European Union’s broader strategy, as outlined in the Rearm Europe initiative. The central goal of this plan is to increase weapons and ammunition production in order to “strengthen Europe’s deterrent power” amid global competition and the war in Ukraine.
The European Commission has announced funding packages worth billions of euros for the defence industry, explicitly requiring companies to ramp up production within defined timeframes. At the same time, cooperation with NATO is being deepened, and the integration of member states’ military policies is being actively promoted.
But what is really at stake?
At a time when military spending is surging across Europe—always under the pretext of “defence”—governments cannot simply impose militarist policies from above. They demand social consensus and national cohesion. They need new generations willing to accept military logic as both necessary and “normal.”
According to NATO sources, total defence spending by member states rose by 11% in 2023 compared to 2022. France plans to allocate over €413 billion to military spending by 2030. Germany has created a €100 billion “special fund” for military investments. In Greece, the Ministry of National Defence’s budget exceeds €5.4 billion for 2024—even as schools remain underfunded and pressing social needs go unmet.
Instead of being taught critical thinking and values of peace and cooperation, students are being trained in obedience, conformity, and acceptance of hierarchy and authority.
“Army out of the classroom!”
The militarisation of education is not neutral. It is not about “career orientation” or simply “learning about the Armed Forces.” It is a deliberate ideological intervention—designed to familiarise society with the logic of war, surveillance, discipline, and control.
The educational and student movements must reject this effort. We must fight for an open and free education system that nurtures citizens, not future soldiers that will become cannon fodder for the profits of the ruling classes.
