Even before taking office earlier this year, Germany's current federal government was planning to change the rules around military recruitment.
The country's army is simply too small, the thinking goes, and given the imminent threat of Russia on one side and the US having become increasingly unreliable on the other, Germany's top leaders are in agreement that it's time to grow the German army (Bundeswehr) significantly.
Last week, Germany took a significant step in that direction when the cabinet passed a law intended to introduce a new military service model.
Headlines around the law change, and what it means for young men and women in the country have been less than clear, however. Specifically the term "compulsory service" comes up in many reports, whereas German leaders have insisted that recruitment will be voluntary.
So here's what Germany's new military recruitment means for you (or the young men and women in your life) in simple terms.
Mandatory questionnaire
Starting next year, all young men and women will be sent a questionnaire on their 18th birthday. It is to be made available online.
For men it will be mandatory to fill it out, whereas for women it is to be voluntary.
According to reporting by Tagesschau, the questionnaire will specifically inquire about the person's interest in joining the Bundeswehr or the army reserves. Suitable candidates would then be invited to a medical examination.
So for the time being, the German law is not enacting compulsory military service. But the draft law would make it possible for compulsory service to be introduced later on.
Who is affected?
The target group is people aged 18 to 25.
Initially, women and men born in 2001 or later are set to receive informative material, and can voluntarily declare their willingness to serve in the German army.
Starting July 1st, 2027, the medical examination for fitness for military service, will be made mandatory for all men born in 2008 or later.
The aim is to allow leaders of the Bundeswehr to get a picture of the country's total number of potential personnel.
Provided they fall into the right age bracket, newly naturalised Germans and foreign dual citizens would also be included in the military service scheme.
In the hope of attracting more volunteers, the new law also sets a higher salary for army reservists. In the future, conscripts are to be paid as temporary soldiers and thus receive more than €2000 per month.
Service 'not compulsory' for now
One key point is that the new law grants the possibility of activating conscription by ordinance.
So while compulsory military service for some or all portions of the young adult German population is not currently planned, the new law would see the government be given the power to change that in the future.
This is established in Section 2a of the Compulsory Military Service Act (WPflG).
Basically, if Germany's defence policy required a rapid increase the number of people serving in the armed forces, then compulsory service (or an army draft) could be put in place.
Doing so would require approval by the Bundestag.
What are people saying?
Germany's Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius has voiced his support of the new model: "We'll rely on volunteers to reach our target," he said before the cabinet meeting on Deutschlandfunk.
However, he warned of a "partial reintroduction of conscription" if specific targets were not reached.
The Defence Minister did oppose setting concrete target figures in the new law for now. Noting a lack of capacity for training and in the army barracks at present.
On the other hand, CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen thinks the law does not go far enough.
"Germany will not be able to defend itself," Röttgen told RND regarding the new law. "There is a lack of any number and any deadline for what to achieve and when..."
Meanwhile the President of the Reservist Association of the Bundeswehr, Patrick Sensburg, told Bayerischer Rundfunk: "Many believe that there is now an obligation [to do military service] again. There is no such thing. The only obligation is that you have to answer a questionnaire."
READ ALSO: Rheinmetall opens mega-plant in northern Germany as Europe rearms
For his part, he did not think that the new rules will result in Germany growing its army sufficiently, adding "We remain at 180,000. We have wanted to have 203,000 for years."
"Despite all the advertising campaigns, despite all the good measures, we are not succeeding in getting more people to join the Bundeswehr."
Before the proposed rules become law, they would first need to be passed by the the Bundestag.
Comments (1)