24-Year-Old Bridges Military Service and Tech Innovation

Instead of backpacking through Europe after school, Léocadie Reimers joined the German military at 24, viewing it as her way to give back to society while gaining life experience.

Now she's part of a quiet revolution. Reimers represents a growing number of young Europeans, especially women, who are rethinking security work as a way to protect democratic values rather than just traditional military service.

Her journey began with volunteer work, which naturally extended to military service in the Bundeswehr. She wanted to meet people from different backgrounds across Germany and challenge herself in new ways.

The weapons training felt "unusual" at first, she admits. But the process was gradual and professional, starting with theory, then dry drills, then simulators before anyone fires a live weapon.

Her service came before Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, so it felt more theoretical then. Today, the stakes feel much more real to her generation.

After leaving active duty, Reimers volunteered in Ukraine with Mission Siret, delivering humanitarian aid. That experience crystallized her next move: working in the defense industry while staying active as a military reservist.

She now works at ARX Robotics, a Bavarian company developing AI-powered drones and autonomous systems to modernize European defense. The technology also has civilian applications in disaster response and infrastructure monitoring.

Why This Inspires

Reimers believes her generation sees security differently than their parents did. For them, working in defense means strengthening democracy and protecting European values, not just traditional warfare.

She's also helping change who people picture in defense roles. Women make up nearly 14% of the Bundeswehr's 180,000 soldiers, over 25,000 in total, but remain less visible in leadership.

"I know an incredible number of exciting and successful women in this industry," Reimers says. The challenge isn't opportunity but visibility, which could encourage more young women to consider this path.

Her company specifically hires former service members because they understand what troops actually need. The goal is developing with the military, not just for them.

Reimers calls her approach "one leg in uniform, one in a suit," combining hands-on military understanding with private sector innovation to solve real problems facing Europe today.