A new report from the Chief of Staff's Office has revealed a crisis undermining the foundations of the Argentine Armed Forces . Far from promising to strengthen national defense, the current government is facing an unprecedented wave of layoffs, which, according to data, is primarily explained by the wage gap and lack of career prospects .

Since December 10, 2023, the institution has lost more than 15,000 officers, non-commissioned officers, and, alarmingly, volunteer soldiers . This mass exodus, which represents a depletion of personnel and capabilities , has exposed a deeply serious structural problem that compromises the country's security and sovereignty.

The impact of low wages

The main cause of this shortage, according to the Ministry of Defense itself, is insufficient pay . Military salaries have rapidly lost purchasing power, creating a significant gap with provincial and federal security forces. In an adverse economic climate, many uniformed personnel are opting for a job change that offers them better living conditions.

The loss is particularly severe among volunteer troops. The Argentine Army lost more than 10,000 volunteer soldiers, representing 85% of the total casualties. Similar figures are replicated in the Air Force (80%) and the Navy (79%), highlighting a pattern of precariousness affecting the base of the military pyramid.

Loss of experience and strategic training

This phenomenon is not just a numerical loss, but an irreparable loss of human capital . Each officer, non-commissioned officer, or soldier with years of experience and specialized training represents a multimillion-dollar investment that, upon leaving the institution, translates into an operational deficit .

The departure of trained personnel from critical areas forces the institution to invest time and resources in training new personnel, creating a vicious cycle that makes it difficult to reverse the situation. This is evident in cases like Córdoba , where, according to Zona Militar , many personnel joined the Anti-Narcotics Police Force (FPA) , leaving military units with a shortage of personnel and experience.

"The Argentine Army has lost a huge amount of capabilities, as it not only affects the organization of these elements, but their recovery will require a considerable investment of time and resources," the outlet notes.

The situation becomes even more critical when we consider that training pilots, technicians, and unit commanders takes years and costs millions. The Air Force, for example, trained 252 new pilot officers between 2020 and 2024, but during the same period, 268 were discharged and another 420 retired.

Risk to national defense and the future of the Armed Forces

The attrition of qualified professionals compromises the ability to respond to emerging threats and participate in international missions . Without an effective human resource retention and valorization policy, it is impossible to maintain the core capabilities that support the constitutional mission of the Armed Forces.

This situation is exacerbated by the lack of funding for the Armed Forces' social security system (IOSFA), which has left personnel in a critical situation when it comes to accessing health services. The deteriorating working conditions and the lack of a clear career path clash with the vocation of service, leading to a mass withdrawal that weakens the defense system and puts national security at risk.

The current situation reveals a painful paradox: while official rhetoric emphasizes the need to modernize defense, the institution is suffering from internal hemorrhages that jeopardize its future. The question that arises is whether the reequipment announcements are sustainable without a serious plan that values and retains the personnel who make the Armed Forces function .