Junior defence minister Jack de Vries hopes to solve the critical shortage of military personnel by recruiting civilians who have lost their jobs through the economic crisis.

De Vries told Thursday’s Volkskrant that of the 7,600 jobs available with the armed forces, around 1,500 could be filled by civilians. He is thinking in particular of medical and logistics staff and technicians, he said.
The Christian Democrat minister expects increased interest in secure government jobs in 2010 as the effects of the financial crisis become more widespread.
Civilians who work for the defence ministry can be sent on overseas missions if they volunteer.