Germany aims to significantly expand its armed forces by recruiting up to 40,000 teenagers annually for a new voluntary form of military service. The proposed bill is expected to be presented to the government cabinet by the end of August. It will offer attractive wages and flexibility to draw in 18-year-olds.
Boosting Military Preparedness
The Ministry of Defense anticipates filling 15,000 spots in the existing program this year and increasing the number of young participants by 3,000 to 5,000 each year. This is part of a broader strategy to prepare for potential threats, especially Russian aggression.
The goal is to reach an annual intake of 40,000 volunteers by 2031, who will then join the reserves after completing their service. Concurrently, Germany plans to increase the number of professional soldiers.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to make the German military the most powerful conventional force in Europe, backed by billions of euros in rearmament investments. The aim is to boost the professional army’s size from the current 182,000 to 260,000 by 2035, while expanding ready reserves from 60,000 to 200,000.
