Overview

• The Bundesverwaltungsgericht in Leipzig confirmed on June 13 that a Hauptfeldwebel’s relationship with a fellow soldier’s wife violated the comradeship principle and warranted a pay reduction.
• A lower Truppendienstgericht had imposed both a promotion ban and pay cut, but the federal court overturned the promotion block and limited sanctions to a temporary reduction in pay.
• The court ruled that the obligation to uphold marital cohabitation endures until a marriage has definitively failed, so physical separation alone does not excuse adultery.
• Judges acknowledged the NCO’s previously exemplary service record and his claimed lack of awareness about the marriage’s legal status when they opted for a milder penalty.
• The ruling reflects a wider push within the Bundeswehr to reinforce discipline and trust as it expands overseas deployments and boosts overall readiness.