Laurenz Spies will be eighteen next year and is waiting for a letter from the Bundeswehr. He then had to fill out a questionnaire and was invited to the event. Those born in 2008 were among the first young adults to have their health screened to determine whether they were fit for military service. “This is a big topic for us. The younger generation talks about it a lot.”
Spies is a representative of the state schools in Hesse. He followed political debates closely and exchanged ideas with his classmates. “Most of the younger generation is critical of military service. They see the danger posed by Russia, but they don’t want to be drafted.”
Military conscription is no longer in effect at this time; the federal government initially relied on voluntary military service. The number of people undertaking military service should be increased through the younger generation volunteering to serve in the armed forces. If the number of volunteers is insufficient and troop registration remains below demand, the Bundestag wants to make additional adjustments. Then let everyone decide. “Nobody thinks the lottery process is fair,” Spies said. “We are relieved that a decision has been made and it was initially planned on a voluntary basis.”
Initially, no one was drafted into the Bundeswehr against their will. However, many young men have real fears about the future when they consider military service. “They have different desires about how they want to shape their future,” Spies said. And some people also fear being hurt by “lost years” if they do get drafted. “The public wants a lot from us, but gives little in return.”
Politicians also want to make military service attractive through financial incentives and advertising a salary of 2,600 euros and a subsidy for a driver’s license if you enlist for more than a year. Spies could imagine that it would be an incentive for some of his colleagues “if they receive attractive offers during military service.”
Special treatment of women is controversial
Young women should also be contacted on their 18th birthday. Unlike their male counterparts, they did not have to return questionnaires. Spies views this critically: “If you are trying to achieve equality, there has to be equality of rights and responsibilities,” he says. But that was his personal opinion and not the opinion of the state student council.
Personally, Spies can also understand the new rules regarding military service. He believes the threat posed by Russia means that Germany has no other choice but to increase its defense readiness. “I would rather defend our country, our democracy and our values of freedom than be taken over by Russia.” Because a life in slavery might not be worth living. Spies would like to see young people more involved in the debate on issues such as: “The Ministry of Defense should think about a youth advisory council.”
Frankfurt city schools spokesman Robert Buruiana sees things a little differently. He belonged to the class of 2007 and was relieved not to have to gather. Buruiana’s family comes from Moldova, which borders Ukraine. Therefore, the conflict is very close to him emotionally. “My friends tend to be against conscription. Many are afraid of the lottery system and don’t want to go to war.” He also understood that Germany wanted to show its strength in the face of the Russian threat. “But I believe this conflict can also be resolved in other ways. Politically, through negotiations.”
Youth officers are supposed to provide information, not recruit
Buruiana also does not believe in mandatory years, as required by the Federal President as a form of service to the people. “You shouldn’t force this on other people. They should have the freedom to decide what they want to do with their lives.”
But do young people know what to expect in the Bundeswehr? Buruiana believes that informative conversations can help ensure that those who are eligible decide to undertake military service voluntarily. Therefore, it is also open to visits by youth officers during school lessons. “Conversations like that can be helpful so that those who are interested can find out more.” But one thing was important to him: officers were not allowed to recruit.
There is almost no topic as controversial among students as the Bundeswehr’s visit to school. The state of Hesse has signed a cooperation agreement with the Bundeswehr, which was only renewed in June. Through their school visits, youth officers should contribute to political education and “education in values and democracy,” as a Ministry of Culture spokesperson explained.
Schools can invite youth officers as external speakers on security policies. They provide students with information about Germany’s foreign and security policy goals and strategies, global conflict prevention and crisis management, as well as national and European security interests.
More than 150 visits last school year
Interest in these visits varies from year to year. There were 139 visits in the 2022/2023 school year, 179 visits the following year, and 159 visits in the last school year. “It is important to say that young officers are not allowed to advertise for the Bundeswehr in terms of possible military service or for a career in the Bundeswehr in general,” said a spokesperson for the Minister of Education. On the one hand, this was prohibited based on the orders the youth officers received from their command and, on the other hand, based on the cooperation agreement between the youth officers in Hesse and the ministry.
The state student council has officially decided against such visits. However, it is already several years old. In light of current political developments, state school spokesperson Spies can imagine that the state student council’s position on school visits by youth officers has changed. He announced: “We will deal with it again.”
The Bundeswehr is seeing growing interest
The Hesse State Bundeswehr Command believes that security policy issues are becoming more important for many students. “After the Russian war of aggression, it is noticeable that students face security policy issues more intensively, especially because they are affected by its consequences,” said a press office employee, referring to media reports, for example on social media, discourse in society as a whole, and also the fact that many classmates who had to flee the war in Ukraine have arrived at Hessian schools. “At the same time, other crises and conflicts have also contributed to increased interest in security policy among the younger generation.”
The importance of young officers as security policy advisors has not changed since 1958, the Bundeswehr state command said. However, they do not undertake any recruiting or hiring activities. This is the task of the Bundeswehr personnel recruitment organization and its career advisors. “Students interested in working in the Bundeswehr will be referred to them.”
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine also changed Hannes Kaulfersch a lot. The real threat from Russia has made the former spokesman for schools in the city of Frankfurt rethink his approach. Hardly any other question is discussed in school as controversially as the presence of youth officers from the Bundeswehr in the classroom. Kaulfersch now argues that young officers should give lectures in schools and discuss with students: “I believe the eleventh grade is capable of critically examining a Bundeswehr soldier.” Moreover, a teacher is always present. “An officer may be quicker at analyzing security policies than a teacher.” Many students have great feelings of insecurity – but also need information. Direct information can also counter the spread of fake news.
In this context, Kaulfersch also does not believe in “old hatreds”: “It is worrying that recent years seem to have left some people’s worldview without a trace. The Bundeswehr should not be pushed aside, but rather placed at the center of social discourse.”
However, you should not force a juvenile officer to visit the classroom. “If, for example, there are refugees who have experienced trauma, you have to approach this topic very sensitively,” Kaulfersch said. According to him, when discussing conscription and compulsory military service, we must also remember “that this generation has already borne the consequences of Corona, pension funds, infrastructure, and last but not least, climate change.”
