Inspector General Breuer: Military service without lottery for more security!

Inspector General Breuer: Military service without lottery for more security!

In the current debate about the reorganization of military service, Carsten Breuer, the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, takes a clear position. He is firmly against a lottery system for military service, as is the case radiomk.de reported. Breuer emphasizes the urgency of knowing quickly which people are available in the event of a defense. For him, comprehensive testing of all years is crucial in order to save time in an emergency.

With a clear focus, Breuer also explains the need for voluntary military service. Its goal is to make the service more interesting for young people through attractive offers. However, if the number of volunteers is not sufficient, there could be a mandatory call-up, which would have to be decided by both the cabinet and the Bundestag. His resistance to a random principle proposed by politicians from the CDU/CSU and the SPD shows that Breuer is relying on a strategic approach.

The situation of the Bundeswehr

The Bundeswehr faces a significant challenge: 80,000 additional soldiers will be needed by the end of the decade to meet NATO commitments. Germany currently has around 182,000 soldiers, but with the new military service law, which is due to come into force on January 1, 2026, an increase to at least 260,000 is planned by 2035. This has also brought the Republic up in the political discussion, as after more than 14 years of suspension of compulsory military service, the aim is to comprehensively strengthen the armed forces tagesschau.de informed.

The law requires all 18-year-old men to complete an online questionnaire about interest in military service, while it is voluntary for women. From July 1, 2027, muster muster for men born in 2008. These measures are intended to create a comprehensive picture of the situation about the potentially available personnel, but critics, such as CDU foreign politician Norbert Röttgen, see these as insufficient targets.

Protests and controversies

The anti-war alliance “Rheinmetall Disarmen” has already mobilized in Cologne against the federal government's plans. Such protests show that not everyone agrees with the measures. Critics, such as Green party leader Katharina Dröge, see the draft as a “botched compromise,” and the reservist association questions the effectiveness of the questionnaire for recruiting new soldiers.

In conclusion, it can be said that Breuer and the Bundeswehr are faced with a mammoth task. With the upcoming military service law, they want to put the armed forces on a modern foundation, even if the way there is paved by disagreements and protests. The inspector general remains optimistic that attractive offers can attract more young people to the service, but he also knows that time is of the essence.