Pistorius withdraws thoughts of obligatory military service.
In the German military, the Bundeswehr, there aren't many young people actively wanting to join its depleted ranks. Thus, a return to mandatory military service is improbable. Instead, Defense Minister Pistorius intends to attract potential recruits using positive incentives.
For the first time, Bundesverteidigungsminister Boris Pistorius has shared his plans for a new military service with the SPD presidium. As per "Spiegel," he shared their own sources.
reportedly, the new recruitment model would primarily rely on volunteers, ruling out the possibility of reinstating a mandatory military service system where individuals could be forceably drafted against their will.
The Defense Ministry intends to entice potential recruits with incentives for voluntary enlistment in the Bundeswehr. Speculated incentives include a complimentary driver's license or simplified access to educational programs for those who completed their military service voluntarily. Additionally, there are whispers about discounts on student loans or language classes.
The Bundeswehr aims to expand
Pistorius plans to distribute a questionnaire reminiscent of a draft to all 18-year-olds, gathering information about their physical status. But there's no obligation to enlist. The questionnaire is predicted to spark curiosity about the Bundeswehr's operations. The Bundeswehr currently recruits potential soldiers via postcards.
The Pistorius plan is reportedly met with skepticism within the Defense Ministry. This path is considered "least likely to meet the demand" in internal files.
Currently, the German military has around 180,000 active-duty personnel. The target is to reach 203,000 by 2031. However, achieving this goal seems unlikely with the current state of military personnel. The number of active servicemembers is steadily declining.
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Despite the lack of enthusiasm for compulsory military service in the German Armed Forces, or Bundeswehr, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has ruled out its reinstatement. Instead, he aims to attract volunteers with incentives such as free driver's licenses or simplified access to educational programs.
In response to the Bundeswehr's need to expand its personnel, Pistorius wants to distribute questionnaires to 18-year-olds to gauge interest, but there will be no obligation to enlist. The current skepticism within the Defense Ministry regards this approach as the least likely to meet the needed demand for recruits.
Source: www.ntv.de
