Overview

• The Bundeswehr fields roughly 182,000 active soldiers and needs 50,000 to 60,000 more to satisfy NATO’s new capability targets
• Enlistment under the planned voluntary service model remains low, with fewer than 10% of school leavers choosing six-month military duty and only 10,000 signing up
• CDU defense committee chair Thomas Röwekamp has proposed a general service obligation for all citizens that could include military training or civilian work
• SPD parliamentary leader Matthias Miersch has ruled out any debate on reintroducing compulsory military service during the current legislative term
• Bundestag Wehrbeauftragter Henning Otte has said he will revisit mandatory service proposals by year-end to prevent overstretching the armed forces