On July 8th, the acceptance of the comprehensive national defense in the Austrian Federal Constitution marks the inclusion of the comprehensive national defense. On this day it was anchored in the Federal Law Gazette No. 368 from 1975. 50 years later, the comprehensive national defense – especially after the war of aging Russia on Ukraine and against the background of geopolitical changes – has again been increasingly at the center of the public. Especially in a world that has become increasingly uncertain, it is all the more important that the Austrian army is preparing for possible threats. At the same time, the Federal Ministry of State Defense is committed to bringing mental defense more into focus again.
“One is to increase the defense budget, the other, which is urgently needed here, the defense capability of Austria is to be lifted and strengthened in all areas. State defense is not just a military task, but a social that affects everyone and every one. In this context, in particular, the military will play a central role. Military, civil, economical, politically and mentally.
Intellectual national defense in the curricula
In 2023, the topics of “comprehensive national defense” and “Austrian Federal Armedia” were therefore included as binding content in the subject of political education and history at middle schools and AHS sub-stages. Schoolchildren actively deal with these topics. In the upper grades, various subjects and the fundamental decree of political education also offer occasions to deal with the topics of “comprehensive national defense” and “security policy”. Information officers from the Austrian Armed Forces are also invited at compulsory schools and at higher schools to familiarize students with the topic.
The BMLV currently has around 650 trained and ordered information officers. Another 200 are currently in training, over 500 more have expressed interest in training.
“We are particularly proud of over 100 external information officers, including many teachers who are devoting themselves to this topic with great commitment. With measures of this kind, we can strengthen the understanding of young people for national defense, bring the will to defend again and promote the willingness to defend democratic freedom. to stimulate fundamental rights, ”continued Tanner.
In the past two years, information officers have been in use over 3,800 times, including around 2,500 times in the education sector.
Comprehensive national defense
The comprehensive national defense is the sum of all military and civil measures in order to be able to meet current and future challenges for Austria’s security. It includes military, economic, civilian and mental defense.