Starting next year, all young men with German passports aged 18 and over will have to register with the German Armed Forces. This will initially affect those born in 2008. The draft board is a medical examination to determine whether a man is fit to serve in the German Armed Forces. This is the result of the new Military Service Act, which the Bundestag has now passed. It is scheduled to come into force on January 1, 2026, provided that the Bundesrat approves it beforehand. However, military service itself will remain voluntary, as conscription has been suspended in Germany since 2011.
For most people, the examinations will probably not begin until July 2027, as the Bundeswehr first has to organize the facilities for them. However, at the beginning of next year, all young men and women will receive a questionnaire asking them to what extent they are motivated and suitable for service in the Bundeswehr. Men must fill it out, but women do not. The new law reintroduces military registration.
The German Armed Forces are also offering money to attract new recruits. During their six months of military service, they will receive €2,600 gross per month. Those who sign up for longer will receive an additional €100. After one year, subsidies are offered for car or truck driver’s licenses.
In view of new military threats, the federal government wants to significantly expand the Bundeswehr in the coming years – the number of active soldiers is to increase from 184,000 to 260,000. In the long term, the plan is for the Bundeswehr to grow to 460,000 active soldiers and reservists. This is to be done on a voluntary basis initially. If this is not sufficient, the Bundestag can decide to introduce “compulsory military service.”
Further information:
https://www.bmvg.de/de/presse/gesetzentwurf-zur-modernisierung-des-wehrdienstes-6049090
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