"It is snowing, and 16-year-old Carlotta is standing on the vast military training ground in Grafenwohr watching a howitzer 2000 fire live ammunition. It is cold and very loud when the shells are fired, so Carlotta has to wear earplugs. This is not a day like any other for the young school student: While her friends are sitting in warm classrooms in Cologne, she has made her way to Bavaria by train alone."
"A whole team of supervisors looks after the young people: The German military is sparing no effort to recruit new soldiers. Carlotta also wants to see if the Bundeswehr is really something for her. To do so, she is taking part in the so-called "Discovery Days" a kind of short internship with the troops, including early morning sports and camaraderie evenings. The student can well imagine joining the army later."
Sixteen-year-old Carlotta participates in Bundeswehr "Discovery Days", standing on a freezing Grafenwohr training ground as a howitzer fires live ammunition. Participants receive uniforms, follow early morning sports and camaraderie evenings, and are supervised closely as part of intense recruitment efforts. Carlotta considers enlisting for an initial three to four years and possibly eight if she likes it, but rejects compulsory service as demotivating. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius aims to boost voluntary enlistment with a new military service law and incentives. Starting in early 2026 new recruits will earn €2,600 monthly before tax for at least six months, and those committing twelve months receive a driving-lesson subsidy.
Read at www.dw.com
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