For many young adults, the space between high school and the next chapter is filled with backpacks and plane tickets. Léocadie Reimers chose a different kind of journey. At 24, she swapped the gap year for a uniform, enlisting in the Bundeswehr not out of obligation, but as a deliberate contribution to society. Her path reflects a shifting landscape in European defence, where civilian expertise and military service are increasingly intertwining.
Reimers describes her decision as an extension of prior volunteer work, driven by a desire to meet people from diverse backgrounds and gain perspective. Yet, the reality of service carried weight beyond camaraderie. Basic training introduced her to weapons handling—a process she recalls as gradual and strictly professional. “You don’t play around with it,” she said. “It really is a tool.” For Reimers, mastering that tool required patience, moving from theory to dry drills before live fire.
Her tenure predates Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a timeline that shapes her perspective. During her service, the threat felt abstract, almost theoretical. The urgency that defines today’s security environment was less present then, allowing her to view voluntary service without the immediate pressure of impending conflict. That distance has since vanished, reshaping how a generation views defence work.
Reimers did not stay in the armed forces full-time. Instead, she adopted a hybrid model: active reservist status paired with civilian work in the defence industry. Since November of last year, she has worked at ARX Robotics, a Bavaria-based firm developing autonomous ground systems and counter-drone software. Her role sits at the intersection of policy and engineering, driven by a question she posed to herself: “How can we defend European security and democracy?”
The company emphasizes European sovereignty, collaborating with NATO partners and deploying technology in Ukraine to gather real-world feedback. For Reimers, this loop between the field and the lab is vital. “The most critical thing is not to develop without the troops, but to develop for the troops with the troops,” she said. She describes her position as having “one leg in uniform, the other in a suit,” bridging the gap between end-user needs and technological innovation.
Her trajectory also highlights a persistent demographic challenge. Women make up just under 14% of the Bundeswehr’s roughly 180,000 soldiers. Reimers argues the barrier is often visibility rather than opportunity. She notes that successful women exist across the sector—as engineers, entrepreneurs and soldiers—but remain less seen. Greater representation, she suggests, could encourage more women to consider defence as a viable career path.
As the industry pivots toward AI and unmanned systems, ethical questions arise. Reimers acknowledges the speed of change is incredible, evolving almost week by week. However, she pushes back against the notion that autonomous systems will remove humans from decision-making. In her view, innovation in this space must prioritize risk reduction. “it’s about protecting people,” she said, citing clear moral boundaries within companies tied to EU and NATO frameworks.
What drives the shift to defence work?
For professionals like Reimers, the motivation often stems from a desire for tangible impact. The post-2022 security environment has reframed defence not just as military action, but as a sector critical to maintaining democratic stability. This has drawn civilians who aim for to contribute to security without necessarily committing to a full-time military career.
How common is the hybrid model?
Whereas traditional careers separate civilian and military life, reservist roles combined with industry work are becoming more recognized. This allows individuals to maintain military readiness while applying technical skills in the private sector, creating a feedback loop that benefits both operational capability and technological development.
What are the ethical guardrails?
Companies operating within NATO and EU jurisdictions typically adhere to strict guidelines regarding autonomous weapons. The focus remains on human-in-the-loop systems where soldiers retain decision-making authority. The industry argument is that technology should support personnel safety and information processing, not replace human judgment.
As defence technology evolves, the line between civilian innovation and military necessity continues to blur. Do you observe this hybrid career path as a model for future security work?
