Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service Draft Law

Nov 6, 2024, 02:50 PM

Germany's cabinet has approved a draft law on voluntary military service, aiming to boost troop numbers for NATO. The new legislation will require young men to declare their interest in serving in the military. The plan, supported by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, stops short of reintroducing conscription but allows the Bundeswehr to assess the readiness of 18-year-olds to join the military. The draft law targets 5,000 additional recruits per year, aligning with current training capacity, and there is an option to gradually increase this number. Currently, about 10,000 young German citizens serve voluntarily each year. The legislation will be debated in the Bundesrat and Bundestag early next year, with service periods ranging from 6 to 23 months.