Urgent appeal: Does the compulsory military service to save the Bundeswehr?
Urgent appeal: Does the compulsory military service to save the Bundeswehr?
Herford, Deutschland - In Germany, the discussion about military service is back on the agenda. Chancellor's head of Thorsten Frei Power and calls for a prompt decision to increase the Bundeswehr. According to his words, the black and red coalition must make a clear appointment in order to achieve the goal of 203,000 active soldiers, which has not yet been achieved by voluntary recruitment. "We hardly have time to achieve the goal on a voluntary basis, especially in view of the current threat situation," said Frei. This reports Radio Herford .
The Bundeswehr currently has a little more than 180,000 soldiers. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has clearly recognized that around 50,000 to 60,000 additional soldiers are required to achieve the required target size. The scope for voluntary recruitment is becoming increasingly narrower, and the importance of a discussion about military service is becoming increasingly urgent.
a new military service?
With the concept of "new military service", which Defense Minister Pistorius presented in Berlin on June 12, 2024, a selection defense service is to be created without duty. According to Tagesschau , young men aged 18 and over have to fill out a questionnaire and are invited to a sample date. Women are not affected by this obligation, but can also participate. Every year the Bundeswehr plans to contact around 400,000 young men in the hope of activating 25 percent of them.
skepticism compared to this model does not fail, especially whether it can really solve the Bundeswehr's recruitment problem. There is resistance in the government coalition, especially from the ranks of the SPD and the Chancellery. "We need predictability for the troop and a reliable recruitment," emphasizes Pistorius, while experts exchange ideas about the possible fortune justice and alternative replacement services.
The security policy situation changes
In view of the fundamentally changing security policy situation in Europe, the question of a possible return to compulsory military service is currently than ever. Alarming reports confirm that the Federal Intelligence Service and the Bundeswehr warn of the risk of a Russian attack on NATO territory. A conventional war could become a reality until the end of the decade, which requires the defense effort significantly, as wdr reports.Although compulsory military service could theoretically be reactivated in Parliament in peace times, the reality shows that the Bundeswehr is currently not equipped for implementation. Barracks were sold, military replacement offices were abolished, and there is a lack of personnel not only, but also the necessary infrastructure. Henning Otte, the new military officer, considers a resumption of military service to be unavoidable and suggests a model based on Swedish model.
The persistent discussion about compulsory military service will not only shape politics, but also the social climate and the attitude of young people to defend them for defense and service in society. In the uncertain world of today, a general duty of service could be necessary in the medium term, according to the considerations of those responsible in the Ministry of Defense.
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| Ort | Herford, Deutschland |
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