General Discussion

GJGCA

(238 posts) Sat Dec 6, 2025, 07:51 PM Dec 6

Germany votes to bring in voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

Source: BBC

Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, has voted to introduce voluntary military service, in a move aimed at boosting national defences after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It marks a significant shift in Germany's approach to its military and follows Chancellor Friedrich Merz's push to create Europe's strongest conventional army.

The government says military service will be voluntary for as long as possible, but from July 2027, all 18-year-old men will have to take a medical exam to assess their fitness for possible military service.

Universal medical examinations were necessary, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said, so that in the event of an attack, Germany would not waste time determining "who is operationally capable as a homeland protector and who is not".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg9drg8pg1o

9 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Germany votes to bring in voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds (Original Post) GJGCA Dec 6 OP

Rich boys with bone spurs will pay their doctor to take an x-ray for proof. Emile Dec 6 #1

Here in the US a mandatory draft for high school graduates anciano Dec 6 #2

Maybe under a different administration. Deuxcents Dec 6 #3

An understandable concern.... anciano Dec 6 #4

Love your optimism. I've often thought something like the Peace Corps would have a positive impact Deuxcents Dec 6 #5

Like your thoughts 👍... anciano Dec 6 #6

We are ....too big Melon Dec 6 #7

Not sure about that. Woodwizard Dec 7 #9

A strong German military? SocialDemocrat61 Dec 7 #8

Emile

(40,656 posts)

1. Rich boys with bone spurs will pay their doctor to take an x-ray for proof.

Reply to GJGCA (Original post)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 08:05 PM

Dec 6

Trump's X-ray

anciano

(2,195 posts)

2. Here in the US a mandatory draft for high school graduates

Reply to GJGCA (Original post)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 08:34 PM

Dec 6

would be an excellent idea for several reasons such as skill development and to promote a sense of civic responsibility.

Deuxcents

(25,544 posts)

3. Maybe under a different administration.

Reply to anciano (Reply #2)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 09:38 PM

Dec 6

anciano

(2,195 posts)

4. An understandable concern....

Reply to Deuxcents (Reply #3)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 09:45 PM

Dec 6

but this too shall pass.

Deuxcents

(25,544 posts)

5. Love your optimism. I've often thought something like the Peace Corps would have a positive impact

Reply to anciano (Reply #4)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 09:56 PM

Dec 6

On young people who aren’t going to college or the military but want to make a difference here. Don’t know how welcomed we are in some parts of the world today.

anciano

(2,195 posts)

6. Like your thoughts 👍...

Reply to Deuxcents (Reply #5)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 10:10 PM

Dec 6

some type of "national service" is an even better idea.

Melon

(1,101 posts)

7. We are ....too big

Reply to anciano (Reply #2)

Sat Dec 6, 2025, 10:17 PM

Dec 6

It would kill us financially and there is no need. Our military is decreasing in size. We are cutting back world policing due to cost. We have 1.3 million active military. We have something close to 4 million 18 year olds each year.

Woodwizard

(1,265 posts)

9. Not sure about that.

Reply to anciano (Reply #2)

Sun Dec 7, 2025, 11:08 AM

Dec 7

People that volunteer want to be there. I would not want to be relying on people that did not.

More education on civic duty, history and current events would be nice though.

SocialDemocrat61

(6,868 posts)

8. A strong German military?

Reply to GJGCA (Original post)

Sun Dec 7, 2025, 09:47 AM

Dec 7

That always worked out well.

Reply to this discussion