Overview

• The 'Freiheitsdienst' proposal requires all residents of Germany, regardless of citizenship or gender, to complete six months of service between the ages of 18 and 67.
• Service options include military, civil protection roles like firefighting and disaster response, or societal contributions such as volunteer leadership in youth work or ecological programs.
• Individuals who have already completed military or civil service, or equivalent voluntary work, would be exempt from the requirement.
• The proposal introduces a mandatory assessment after school to inform participants about service options and ensure inclusivity and flexibility in fulfilling the obligation.
• Framed as a modern alternative to conscription, the initiative seeks to strengthen intergenerational cohesion, societal robustness, and democratic freedoms.