Overview
- Generalinspekteur Carsten Breuer says entire male year cohorts must be medically and administratively mustered so the Bundeswehr knows who is available in a defense case.
- Breuer opposes random selection and says, if compulsory service is activated, the force would target particularly qualified and motivated recruits, such as needed IT specialists.
- Defense Minister Boris Pistorius rejects a lottery, favors selection by aptitude and motivation, and backs comprehensive mustering of whole cohorts from the second half of 2027.
- The draft law contacts all 18-year-olds to ask for voluntary service, requires men to return a questionnaire as part of muster, and allows compulsory call-ups only after cabinet and Bundestag decisions.
- The reform aims to build toward roughly 460,000 personnel, as debate continues over scope and fairness, with SPD’s Michael Ebling urging an explicit duty including civilian options and Greens voices calling a lottery arbitrary.