Digitalization of Reserve Management in NATO/EU: Record-Keeping, Call-Up, Distributed Training, and Cyber Risks

Abstract

Military reserve management is undergoing a structural transformation driven by accelerated digitalization and interoperability requirements within NATO and the European Union. This article critically examines reserve personnel record-keeping and mobilization architectures, distributed training models based on the Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) paradigm, and cyber risks specific to digital reserve management platforms. By comparing centralized and federated data management models, the paper identifies opportunities to reduce force generation cycle times while highlighting vulnerabilities associated with digitalization, including the compromise of databases containing reservists’ personal information and denial-of-service attacks during critical call-up periods. The analytical framework integrates European legal requirements (GDPR, NIS2) with NATO standards (STANAGs) and proposes a governance model oriented toward resilience and operational continuity. The conclusions offer eight prioritized recommendations for strategic, technical, and operational decision-makers.