Bundeswehr Plans for Compulsory Muster gain Public Support, Volunteer Rates Remain Low
BERLIN – A majority of germans โขsupport the planned compulsory muster of โyoung men born in 2008, according to a recent survey, though willingness to volunteer for military service remains โขsignificantly low. โThe German government this week reached an โขagreement on a new service model intended to bolster the Bundeswehr’s personnel numbers, balancing mandatory assessment with a continued emphasis on voluntary โservice – at least initially.
The โmove comes โas Germany faces increasing security concerns amid the war in Ukraine and โa persistent struggle to โขmeet recruitment goals for its armed forces. While military โขservice itselfโข is intendedโ to remain voluntary, a new law will require โall youngโค men born in โ2008 โฃand onwards to undergo compulsoryโ muster training.The governing coalition hopes this will generate enough โฃrecruits on a โขvoluntary basis, butโ a contingency plan forโฃ “necessary military service” – a โform of conscription – is included, subject toโ a future vote in the Bundestag.
An Insa survey conducted for “bildโ am โคSonntag” between November 13th and 14th,polling 1,003 people,found that 58 percent of respondents believe the introduction of โcomprehensive testing is the right course of action,while 29 percent oppose it. Thirteen โpercent did not โprovide a response. However, the survey also revealed skepticism about โขthe success of a purely voluntaryโ system, with 57 percent of those surveyed not expecting enough volunteers to meet the Bundeswehr’s personnel goals. Onyl 25 percent anticipate success, and โ18 percent remain undecided.
Personal โwillingness to serve remains limited. Just 31 โขpercent ofโ Germans indicated they would volunteer forโ military service,while 55 percent stated they would not. Fourteen percent did not provide an answer.
The coalition’s compromise, presented on Thursday morning, outlines clear growth goals for theโค Bundeswehr in the coming years.โฃ Ifโฃ voluntary recruitment falls short, โtheโ Bundestag will beโ asked to consider implementing โฃa “necessary military service” obligation. Details of the proposed legislation can be foundโค here. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has stated there is “no reason to be afraid” regardingโ the new measures, according to reporting by Welt.de here.
