The latest report from the Cabinet Chief to the National Senate has revealed the extent of the personnel drain affecting the Argentine Armed Forces. Although the issue has gained attention in recent weeks due to the number of resignations and retirements among officers and non-commissioned officers, little has been said about the loss of capabilities these departures represent, the immediate consequences for the functioning of units, and the time and resources that will be needed to recover them.
As has been pointed out for several years now, the salary situation is one of the main reasons behind the departure of personnel—an issue that has been addressed only partially by recent administrations, never reaching a balance that could be considered even a first step toward a solution. The most recent attempt is the long-awaited pay parity with the Security Forces, an initiative still far from being realized and, in the current economic context, remains insufficient.
By simply reviewing the official indicators published by INDEC regarding the Basic Basket and comparing them with the current salary scale of the Armed Forces, one gets a clear sense of the magnitude of the problem. It reveals a structural reality that affects the vast majority of officers and non-commissioned officers and has a direct impact on the country’s military capabilities.
To understand the negative consequences of the Armed Forces’ precarious salary situation, one only needs to consider that in many units and sub-units, a large portion of the personnel is forced to take on secondary jobs to make ends meet. This clashes with the demanding nature of military service and undermines it in countless ways.
Loss of Capabilities
As we reported in June: “…For several years now, voices within the Armed Forces have warned about the exodus of personnel to provincial or federal security forces, driven by more competitive salary scales…”. While the roots of the problem predate the current administration, what has worsened in 2025 is the loss of capabilities in certain units that form the spearhead of the Argentine military.
One of the most recent examples involves successive recruitment calls by the Córdoba province’s Anti-Narcotics Police Force (FPA), which—due to legal requirements—must fill its officer and NCO positions with personnel trained in military institutions.
According to provincial sources consulted by this outlet, the first recruitment call received dozens of applicants, many of them from units based in Córdoba. This represented a significant loss of capability for the Argentine Army, as it not only impacts the internal structure of these units but also requires a considerable investment of time and resources to recover.
Unless a solution—at least a partial one—is implemented in the very short term, a second recruitment call from the FPA could place these key units, which are part of the spearhead of the Argentine military, in a critical situation.
A similar situation is being experienced across other branches, with the departure of highly trained and experienced personnel who, after years of service, are forced to seek new opportunities due to unresolved issues—be it salary, health coverage, or a long list of other concerns.
Too often we focus on the acquisition of equipment and the launch of re-equipment projects—efforts that are always welcome. However, we firmly believe that it is both necessary and urgent to address the needs of the most important resource our Armed Forces possess: their people.
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