German Military Force - Behold, the new conscription model of Pistorius!
The German military, the Bundeswehr, aims to evaluate the fitness of young individuals for potential military service in the future. The model suggested by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) to the parliamentary committee doesn't involve a return to the draft, but centers around mandatory registration and need-based screening - there is no compulsion to serve.
Conscription was terminated in 2011, but not abolished entirely. The Bundeswehr presently grapples with an acute scarcity of applicants. Amidst concerns over rising military threats from Russia, the Ministry of Defense is keen on reinforcing the armed forces.
As stated by the Defense Committee to AFP news agency, the proposed reform intends to considerably bolster the understaffed Bundeswehr and enhance its deterrent abilities against increasing Russian military threats. The model requires all 18-year-olds to be notified. Men are mandated to fill out and submit the questionnaire, whereas women can submit voluntarily.
Out of the responses, the Bundeswehr will select the young individuals who will be summoned for mandatory screening. Whether an individual chooses to serve or not is still voluntary, as per AFP's report. Pistorius' plan contemplates a six-month compulsory military service that might be extended voluntarily for up to 17 months.
The primary focus is to reinforce the reserves. As quoted by a committee member in AFP, "it's all about increasing the growth potential and strengthening the reserve for overall defense." The long-term vision is to expand the Bundeswehr's strength to 460,000 soldiers, encompassing 200,000 active troops in the standing army and the rest in the reserve.
To achieve this ambition, "another 200,000 reservists need to be generated," Pistorius was quoted saying in the committee. Currently, the Bundeswehr has about 181,000 active soldiers.
Pistorius partly justified the limits on the expansion of personnel strength to 5,000 additional recruits under the new model, with the Bundeswehr's limited infrastructure being the significant hindrance. In his opinion, the expenses might amount to about 1.4 billion euros.
Criticism on Pistorius' plan came from the AfD and the BSW. AfD criticized the minister for cultivating a "war atmosphere," while BSW characterized his remarks as "war rhetoric."
Union leaders questioned Pistorius' plans, asserting that they did not go far enough. Union defense expert Florian Hahn proclaimed after the committee meeting, "from Pistorius' original plans, only an improved voluntary service remains." The minister's proposals leave several legal, financial, and structural concerns unresolved.
During the contentious discussions in the Defense Committee, there was a debate on whether a duty should also extend to women. AFP reported that FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann requested, "in the spirit of military justice," that young women, too, be bound to submit the questionnaire. She opined, "the minister's forced focus on young men must not persist."
Similarly, Union politicians made similar arguments. "I believe that we can no longer discriminate between the sexes in these times," claimed Union parliamentary group deputy Johann Wadephul on ZDF's "Morning Magazine."
Nonetheless, the inclusion of women would require the amendment of the Basic Law. Article 12a of the Basic Law currently permits compulsory service only in the armed forces, the Federal Border Guard, or civil defense associations, catering exclusively to men.
