The article from the Frankfurter Rundschau has ignited controversy. According to our colleagues, the new regulations surrounding the reinstatement of military service in Germany will have consequences for a large number of men. Little known, the text stipulates that all men aged 17 to 45 must inform the army of any trips abroad lasting more than three months. This sparked a heated debate in a country traumatized by wars but seeking to strengthen its armed forces.
Desperately short of recruits, the German army hopes to attract new profiles. At the end of the year, the country announced the re-launch of military service, but strictly on a voluntary basis.
The document mentioned by the Frankfurter Rundschau is actually quite old and not being enforced. Interviewed by the DPA news agency, the Ministry of Defense acknowledged that a simplified regulation should be adopted. “The permit is considered granted as soon as military service is voluntary,” a spokesperson clarified, referring to the new form of military service. Once considered mandatory, the service is now based solely on volunteering.
A medical examination at 18 years old
Germany hopes to attract 20,000 men per year through this military service. According to the new text, all 18-year-old men will have to undergo a medical examination and fill out a questionnaire about their availability and willingness to serve in the army. The topic of defense is becoming increasingly relevant among our neighbors. The issue of nuclear deterrence is increasingly being debated. The country has just under 200,000 military personnel.
