Overview
- The Bundestag approved the recruitment law by 323–272 with one abstention, converting the plan into statute.
- The scheme creates voluntary service but preserves a legal path to limited compulsory call-ups if needed, a possibility Defense Minister Boris Pistorius highlighted.
- An aptitude form will be sent to all 18-year-olds in early 2026, with replies required from men and optional for women, and medical examinations for young people mandated.
- Recruits will earn at least €2,600 gross per month, serve a minimum of six months, and gain perks such as help obtaining a driver’s license after a year of service.
- The overhaul accompanies a multibillion-euro modernization of the Bundeswehr and has drawn student walkouts across Germany.