Overview
- The agreement establishes a voluntary‑first model, with a Bundestag‑activated needs‑based conscription as a fallback that could use random selection and has no automatic trigger.
- Starting in 2026, all 18‑year‑olds will receive a questionnaire on motivation and suitability, mandatory for men and optional for women, with full cohort screening for the 2008 birth year planned from mid‑2027 and potentially phased in as capacity allows.
- Officials warn that organizing nationwide screening will require roughly 1.5 years, necessitating new facilities and staffing before a full rollout.
- Incentives include about €2,600 gross monthly pay and driver’s‑license subsidies for commitments of at least one year, with Soldier‑on‑Time status beginning only after 12 months of service.
- Legally anchored growth targets aim for roughly 260,000 active personnel and 200,000 reservists with regular reporting, and press reports say the law is slated to take effect on January 1, 2026 pending parliamentary approval.