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Recruitment for everyone: Germany is planning a comprehensive recruiting solution!
The federal government is planning a nationwide muster of young men to strengthen their defense capabilities. Find out more about the new military service law, which comes into force on January 1, 2026, and could make conscription optional and mandatory if necessary.
Recruitment for everyone: Germany is planning a comprehensive recruiting solution!
A lot is happening in the political arena in Germany. Today, November 10, 2025, Thomas Röwekamp, the chairman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag and a member of the CDU, called for comprehensive mustering of all young men. The aim is to strengthen the Bundeswehr's defense capability, which is of great importance given the changing threat situation in Europe. Röwekamp emphasizes that clear criteria must be set for the selection of the men who should be obliged to serve. This could include transparent lottery procedures and graduated suitability assessments. The Süddeutsche Zeitung reports that Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) also supports this initiative.
The federal government is planning to introduce a new military service law that will come into force on January 1, 2026. Initially, military service should be carried out on a voluntary basis, but various specialist politicians, including representatives of the CDU/CSU and SPD, are considering drafting by lottery, especially if there are too few volunteers.
Military service and society
Similar to the case of the Bundeswehr, there are also social developments that deserve attention. The 24-year-old French-Swiss photographer Clélia Odette has placed a particular focus on the aging of women with her project “Belles Mômes”. After a life-changing car ride in 2017, where an older woman discussed her experiences with menopause, Odette became aware of the challenges of aging. Vice reports that many of the women Odette was looking for for her project initially found it difficult to be photographed naked. However, through conversations about body image and individual life stories, she was able to establish a new connection with the women.
The photographs created as part of this project show not only external beauty, but also the internal struggles and joys that come with growing older. Many of these women developed friendships with Odette that went beyond photography.
A look into the future of the Bundeswehr
The federal government's new military service law is a reaction to profound changes in the geopolitical situation. The Daily Mirror emphasizes that the Bundeswehr aims to have a total strength of 460,000 soldiers in the future, which includes active troops and reservists. The need for new recruits is great - while around 180,000 active soldiers and 100,000 reservists are currently serving, the number of recruits is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years. By 2030, there should be up to 260,000 active soldiers and 200,000 reservists.
From July 1, 2027 at the latest, the muster will be mandatory for men born in 2008 or later. Beforehand, all men who celebrate their 18th birthday are subjected to an online questionnaire about their readiness for military service. The opportunity to participate voluntarily also applies to women, who receive comprehensive information and can declare their willingness.
In summary, one can say that a rethink is taking place both in the Bundeswehr and in society. Whether it's about the question of defense ability or how to deal with aging - there is a lot going on that makes you think.