The German armed forces are reporting an increase in interest in military service, said the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Gen. Carsten Breuer, quoted by DPA, BTA reports.
"Compared to last year, we have 15% more young people who have chosen voluntary military service", Breuer said in an interview with DPA, published today.
The German cabinet approved a bill to return conscription, but for now only on a voluntary basis. If the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, passes the proposed law, it will come into force on January 1, 2026.
For now, the question remains whether the combination of mandatory registration of citizens subject to mobilization in wartime, checks on citizens' fitness for military service and the voluntary barracks will be enough to recruit enough military personnel in the future, DPA notes.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that the government has set itself the task of securing 15,000 new recruits for the armed forces this year, of which nearly 13,000 have already been found by August alone. The goal is to increase this rate to 30,000 per year by 2029 and to train a total of 110,000 people.
"We have harnessed all the available capacity at our disposal. "It is clear that we urgently need the young men and women who are coming to us through the new voluntary service," Breuer said. "We are facing a threat that we must counter," he added.
The Bundeswehr, or German armed forces, is currently offering 20,000 places for voluntary military service and expects to train the recruits within existing structures next year. Breuer added that in the future the army may also call up reservists to take on the role of military instructors.
Maintaining operational readiness is a top priority, Breuer said. "A tank commander is either preparing for combat operations on NATO's eastern flank or training conscripts - he cannot do both," he added. "The most important thing now is to find the right balance."
According to him, the new service could encourage more people to choose conscription or professional military service.