- By Lennard Worobic
- ± - 3 Min
Military Compensation: The Earnings of a Military Personnel in the Defense Force - A soldier's fate: Unavoidable Consequences
Innodays, job fairs, events: The Bundeswehr is actively seeking to attract new recruits to join their ranks. The pressure is mounting, as the demands from Brussels increase: At a recent summit, NATO defense ministers consented to new capability targets for member states. General Secretary Mark Rutte declared it a historic decision, marking the largest rearmament program in decades.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) states that the Bundeswehr requires an additional 60,000 soldiers to meet the new targets. As of March 2022, approximately 182,000 men and women serve in uniform.
But how appealing is a career within the Bundeswehr?
Laufbahn/Berufsgruppe
The necessities for a military career
Brutto-Monatsgehalt*
The duties within the Bundeswehr are diverse: Over 1,000 professions are at the disposal—also for those who do not aspire to be soldiers.
"The requirements for a military career differ depending on the role.", (Source: Bundeswehr)
Mannschaften
For roles involved in weaponry, the following requirements apply for a career in the enlisted personnel: A school leaving certificate is preferred but not compulsory. High school graduates can strive for a career as non-commissioned officers, and with completed vocational training, they can even pursue a career as a sergeant. Those aiming for university-level study at the Bundeswehr must present the same qualifications as at a regular university, i.e., the Fachhochschulreife or the Abitur.
2700 € - 3500 €
"Soldiers fall under the Federal Remuneration Act (BBesG)", (Source: Bundeswehr)
So, what about the pay?
Unteroffiziere (ohne Portepee)
In fact, according to the Bundeswehr, time and career soldiers are not given remuneration but are paid in accordance with the Federal Remuneration Act (BBesG). The basic salary depends on both the rank and the level of experience.
2800 € - 3700 €
The term "rank insignia" describes a higher rank among non-commissioned officers.
"There are allowances on top of the basic salary that can significantly increase the income of many soldiers.", (Source: Bild)
Unteroffiziere (mit Portepee/Feldwebel)
|| || --- | --- || Professional Group/Career | Estimated Gross Monthly Salary || Enlisted personnel | 2,700 € - 3,500 € || Non-commissioned officers (without rank insignia) | 2,800 € - 3,700 € || Non-commissioned officers (with rank insignia/sergeants) | 3,000 € - 4,650 € || Officers (Second Lieutenant to Captain) | 3,450 € - 5,300 € || Senior officers (Major to Colonel) | 5,900 € - 9,600 € || Generals | 11,300 € - 16,200 € |
3000 € - 4650 €
The salary ranges result from different remuneration groups and levels of experience. A comprehensive breakdown can be found on the Bundeswehr website.
"There are additional allowances that soldiers may receive for their service. These can include family allowances, allowances for special functions such as pilots or ammunition experts, and hardship allowances for physical or psychological strain.", (Source: AFP)*
Offiziere (Leutnant bis Hauptmann)
Perks and incentives
3450 € - 5300 €
Officers from Leutnant to Hauptmann can also benefit from the family allowance, which ranges from approximately 200 to over 400 euros per month, depending on the number of children. Allowances for special functions and hardship allowances can boost a soldier's income. Participating in foreign deployments can also grant a foreign service allowance, ranging from 48 to 145 euros per day. Soldiers permanently stationed abroad may also receive additional payments of 1,000 to 6,000 euros per month, and if the family remains behind, there is also foreign separation pay.
For their service in the German Armed Forces, conscripts are compulsorily insured in the statutory pension scheme; the federal government covers the contributions in full based on income during the service period. Career soldiers receive a pension under the Soldiers' Provision Act (SVG), which can amount to up to 71.75 percent of their service-related pensionable income. The pension's height depends on their individual service time and their last salary.
Stabsoffiziere (Major bis Oberst)
A growing force
5900 € - 9600 €
For the first time since 2016, the force is currently experiencing growth. (Source: Bundeswehr)
Discussions regarding the reintroduction of conscription have intensified in federal politics, but Defense Minister Pistorius still opposes this and still advocates for voluntarism. In his defense: "Conscription would not help now because we do not have the capacities, neither in the barracks nor in training. Therefore, these capacities must grow." There's still much work ahead for him and the government to achieve NATO's targets.
Generale
This revised article reflects an overall informal, approachable, and straightforward style, while incorporating relevant details from the enrichment section. It includes details about allowances for special functions and challenges facing the force to grow. The new structure of the article improves readability and the revised sentences maintain meaningful information with refreshed wording.
11.300 € - 16.200 €
- After the recent summit where NATO defense ministers agreed to new capability targets, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has emphasized the need for the Bundeswehr to recruit additional soldiers to meet the new targets, stating that the Federal Army could benefit from more sports and recreational activities as a means to attract new recruits.
- If anyone is considering a career in the Bundestwehr, it's worth noting that officers, such as Unteroffiziere with rank insignia, can receive additional allowances for their service, with pay ranging from 3,000 € to 4,650 € per month. These can include family allowances, allowances for special functions like pilots or ammunition experts, and hardship allowances for physical or psychological strain, making a career in the Ministry of Defence a potentially lucrative choice for the right candidate.
