Berlin – Germans need to learn a new word: “conscription”!
Meaning: If necessary, the federal government CAN recruit young men for military service (six months, including three months of basic training). How exactly the Bundestag will now regulate this is in a law approved by the CDU/CSU and SPD government factions last night after weeks of discussions.
BILD reports last night regarding the agreement to gather all young men in a year (at the age of 18). Shortly after 9am, the parliamentary group explained the new military service to the press – but BILD already knew about it.
The first generation to be affected by the new rules: those born in 2008.
+++ READ THE NEW BLACK AND RED MILITARY SERVICE PLAN HERE. +++
BILD mentions five important points agreed upon by the black and red parties:
Troop strength
The parliamentary group forced the Minister of Defense to present a concrete personnel target plan (“growth path”) – including reporting and appointment obligations! The agreement paper between the two groups states:
▶︎ “Based on military advice, a growth path with clear target corridors is determined, which is enshrined in law and reviewed by the Ministry of Defense’s semi-annual reporting obligations to the German Bundestag. The basis of this is the additional capabilities promised to NATO, which has a total of 260,000 active troops (target corridor 255,000 – 270,000) and about “We have 200,000 reserves.”
Pattern
A “new and modern military service” will be introduced. The basic idea: “Volunteerism”. BUT: If that’s not enough, obligations come!
Basic principles: Full year groups receive a questionnaire (interest in military service, yes or no?) – men and women!
Reason: “So that in the event of a defense, the Bundeswehr knows who it can support if general conscription is reintroduced.”
Process: Questionnaire arrives. “For men, answering is mandatory.”
Fundraising: “With the enactment of this law, mandatory fundraising for men born January 1, 2008 begins, which will gradually be expanded to all age groups as fundraising capacity increases.”
More money and money for a driver’s license
Serving should be worth it! The paper states: “The new military service is based on volunteerism through increased appeal: those who serve voluntarily receive around 2,600 euros gross per month. For a commitment period of one year or more, a driver’s license subsidy for a car or truck is provided.”
Length of time
More services – more coal!
Those who serve longer should get more benefit from it: “Voluntary military service as a special civilian commitment will be maintained. From the twelve-month commitment period, temporary soldier status (SAZ 1) will be introduced.” This means anyone who enlists for more than 12 months will be treated like a professional soldier – and paid.
Quantity: More if necessary
The Bundestag decides at what point voluntary measures are no longer enough. Meaning: In case of emergency, anyone who has been approved can be recruited!
The government faction paper states:
▶︎ “The Bundestag decides by law on conscription, especially if the defense policy situation or the personnel situation of the armed forces requires this. This serves to close possible gaps between the needs of the armed forces and the actual number of volunteers.”
▶︎ “If the number of conscripts in a particular year exceeds the need, after applying conscription exemptions and all other measures, a random selection process may be used as a last resort. There will be no automatic mechanism to activate conscription.”
So in total the meaning is: The Minister of Defense prevented a double lottery process (a draw for who will be conscripted and a draw for who should go to the federal government) (which is what the parliamentary group wants). On the other hand, the CDU/CSU and SPD have forced ministers to implement strict personnel planning, and this must be measured.
And for all 18-year-olds, the new military law means: Everyone can — and everyone should do it if not enough people want to join the federal government.
