German Armed Forces - Inspector General: Include women in compulsory military service
The Inspector-General of the Federal Armed Forces, Carsten Breuer, would include women in the reactivation of conscription. "We currently have a suspended conscription which targets the male population only according to the Basic Law. Equality should be established here – but we need a corresponding political and societal discussion for that," Breuer told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). Germany needs to be militarily capable.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) presented plans for a new military service model in June. This new model should consist of a compulsory military service of six months with an option for additional voluntary military service up to an additional 17 months. A mandatory registration should be introduced, in which young men would have to declare their readiness and ability for military service. Young women could also do this.
Breuer spoke in favor of Pistorius' model. "Militarily speaking, we need a draft, not least with regard to NATO planning. Germany is the pivotal point for the alliance." In total, our need is for over 400,000 time-serving and career soldiers, as well as reservists. To meet this need, we need roughly 100,000 additional reservists. This new model could initially cover this need. However: "Without compulsory components, it won't work."
The conscription was suspended in Germany in 2011 by Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU) after 55 years. This came close to abolishing both military and civil service.
- The Editorial Network Germany reported on Carsten Breuer's suggestion to include women in the reactivation of conscription in Germany.
- Germany, facing a need to be militarily capable, is considering a new military service model proposed by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
- Carsten Breuer supports Pistorius' model, which includes a compulsory military service for six months with optional extensions, and encourages both men and women to register for this service.
- The German Armed Forces, with a need for over 400,000 time-serving and career soldiers and reservists, hopes to meet this need through the new model, but asserts that it requires compulsory components to be effective.
- In Berlin, discussions on reintroducing compulsory military service, including for women, are ongoing, reflecting Germany's efforts to address its staff shortage in the defense sector.
