Germany plans a new military service that sends a questionnaire to 18-year-olds to identify potential recruits. The procedure will be voluntary initially, with answering compulsory for men from July 1, 2027. Volunteers accepted into the military receive temporary soldier (SaZ) status, improved pay, and bonuses to encourage longer commitments. After active service, recruits transfer to the reserves and remain eligible for call-up and training. The government can order mandatory conscription, with Bundestag approval, if security conditions change or volunteer numbers are insufficient. The policy aims to bolster reserve strength and address personnel shortages while supporting NATO objectives.
In 2011, Germany ended compulsory conscription. But the largest economy in Europe now wants to move toward what the German Ministry of Defense is calling a "new military service." This would emulate a system used in Sweden, where a questionnaire is sent out to anybody aged 18. The process will be voluntary at least, at first. Starting July 1, 2027, it becomes mandatory for all men of that age.
"Young men are required to complete the questionnaire," Germany's Ministry of Defense says on its website. "For persons of other genders, answering the questions is voluntary, as they are not subject to conscription." Anybody who wants to join the army then completes an application process and, if successful, is given the status of "temporary soldier," or SaZ. This puts the new recruits in a better financial position and the bonuses are supposed to make longer commitments to the military more attractive.
Conscription is not compulsory under the new rules but this model does include the potential for that. Should the security situation change or if there are not enough volunteers, then Germany's government can order mandatory conscription, once they have the approval from the German parliament, the Bundestag. Basically from 2027 on, the compulsory digital questionnaire will let the government know how many possible soldiers it has, where they are, what sort of health they're in, and where it might be best to have them serve.
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