The German Cabinet has submitted a Bill that should lead to a significant expansion of the army. Among Other Things, A Mandatory Questionnaire Should Point Out Career Opportunities in The Defense Forces to Young People. The Proposal Still Has To Go Through Parliament.
Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius Wants To Grow the German Army From 180,000 Now to 260,000 Soldiers by the Early 2030s. “The Bundeswehr (The Armed Forces, ed.) Must Grow,” Pistorius Said on Wednesday at a Press Conference. “The International Security Situation, and Especiate Russia’s Aggressive Attitude, Makes This Necessary.”
With the bill, the cabinet hens to significant speed up recruitment. For example, there should be a questionnaire for germans who turn eighteen. This would be mandatory for men and optional for women. In IT, Young People Can Indicate Their Willingness to Work in the Army.
The Government Hopes to Gain a Better View of Available personnel. Earlier on Wednesday, it was announced that Dutch seventeen-year-olds will also Receive a letter from Defense Containing a Survey that Gauges How Young People View the Ared Forces.
In Addition, The German Bill Provides for a Voluntary Service Period of Six Months. The Cabinet Hopes That Young People Will Opt For A Career In The Army After Such A Period. In 2026, The Government is Aiming for 20,000 Applications for the Service Period. By 2030, that should have risen to 38,000. Salaries for Soldiers will also be inceased.
Conscription Not Completely Off The Table
There is no conscription in Germany Yet, but that option remains open. Should the Expansion with Voluntary Measures Have Insufficient Effect, Conscription Can Be Put Back On The Table, The Cabinet States. Germany Abolished IT in 2011.
The Bill Now Goes to Parliament. Whether there is a majority for it is uncertain. Some Party Members of Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) Fear that the Voluntary Measures Will Actual Stand In The Way of the Reintroduction of Conscription, While They Prefer It.
More Germans Have Already Joined the Army in recent months. Between January and the end of July, The Number of New Recruits was 28 percent higher than in the same period last year.