Overview

• Military police (Feldjäger) would be empowered to stop and identify people near bases and convoys, act against unlawful drone operations beyond installations, and temporarily hold suspects if identities cannot be confirmed.
• The military counterintelligence service MAD gains a broader mandate outside Bundeswehr properties and overseas, enhanced cyber authorities, and a stated focus on protecting the planned German brigade in Lithuania and the families of deployed troops.
• Security vetting for recruits will be automated to accelerate hiring, including checks with intelligence services and the federal register as well as reviews of public sources such as social media.
• The new Wehrdienst begins with a digital questionnaire from January 2026 that is mandatory for men, moving to compulsory medical examinations for all 18‑year‑old men from July 1, 2027; service terms range from 6 to 23 months with pay and incentives.
• The government cites NATO readiness goals and says it will assess recruitment each year and could seek Bundestag approval to reinstate conscription if targets are missed, with current figures showing 13,000 of 15,000 planned volunteers already this year.