A third of volunteer military recruits drop out
Published: 3 Jan 13 08:50 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20130103-47111.html
Nearly one in three of Germans who volunteer to join the armed forces leave before the end of their six-month trial period, figures released this week show.
- Bundeswehr begins new era as conscription ends - National (4 Jul 11)
- Military faces looming soldier shortage - National (1 Mar 11)
- Last Bundeswehr conscripts report for duty - National (3 Jan 11)
Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziére set a target of between 5,000 and 15,000 volunteers in July 2011, when compulsory military or social service was scrapped.
He said recently that the high drop-out rate was not a surprise. "Some recruits are obviously surprised when they are expected to show up with polished boots in the morning, have to sleep in a room with several other soldiers, or that they can only smoke during smoke breaks," he said.
Interest in the voluntary social service is significantly greater, with nearly all 35,000 open places filled since the start of 2012. This is despite the fact that those signing up for voluntary military service are paid up to €1,146 a month while those doing social service get just €348.
Those who volunteer for social service are far less likely to break off their commitment early, with just 15 percent doing so, the Family Ministry said on Wednesday.
DPA/The Local/hc
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Your comments about this article:
The military I remember made it clear become an actual or an inmate.
In the British Army, stationed in Germany in the 1960s, my unit had been living in the forests for six weeks on NATO exercise. We stank. Our CO got permission from nearby US barracks to use their washroom and showers - a real luxury in our situation.
We entered a long washroom and found washbasins along one wall, and WCs with no partitions of any kind along the other wall. Some guys standing there shaving, others sitting on the johns.
So in the US Army you don't even have five minutes of privacy to smoke a cigarette on the john! The idea of spending years like that was horrifying to us!
Best wishes Marine...
Sorry, just noticed I referred to you as a marine.
My post should have ended with
Best wishes, soldier.