Germany adopts Swedish model to boost military ranks
Germany does not currently plan to reinstate compulsory military service but is instead opting for a voluntary model inspired by Sweden, reports Deutsche Welle. One of the objectives of this new policy is to reintroduce the conscription register, which was discontinued in 2011.
There is an ongoing debate in Germany regarding the future of its military. The German Ministry of Defence aims to begin reforming the military service system later this year.
Despite the Bundeswehr facing a shortage of personnel and the military profession lacking popularity, the federal government does not intend to bring back compulsory conscription. Instead, as reported by DW, Germany plans to enhance voluntary military service, drawing inspiration from the Swedish model.
Under this new approach, all 18-year-olds in Germany will be sent questionnaires regarding their physical fitness and willingness to undertake military service. Responses will be mandatory for men and voluntary for women. Based on this information, the conscription committee will decide who will be invited for an interview.
— Those selected for military service should be the most capable, most suitable, and most motivated, — said the German Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, last year.
Challenges for the Bundeswehr
Currently, the Bundeswehr is experiencing a shortage of personnel, including pilots and IT specialists. Despite enticing offers such as free rail travel and medical care, young Germans remain hesitant to pursue a military career.
Compulsory conscription presents a practical challenge, as General Carsten Breuer pointed out. He noted that the existing infrastructure does not support accommodating all young conscripts. At present, there are only 15,000 places available for voluntary military service.
An aim of the new policy is to reinstate the conscription register, which was annulled in 2011. This register is intended to collect information on citizens eligible for military service, which will assist in potential mobilisation if necessary.
"Should the new military service, which is initially based on voluntary participation as per the coalition agreement, prove unsuccessful, the new federal government can easily revert to compulsory military service. It was only legally deactivated in 2011 and was not removed from the Basic Law," writes Deutsche Welle.
During the Cold War, the Bundeswehr consisted of nearly half a million soldiers. Currently, the number of active military personnel stands at 182,000.
