Ready for a Rearmament: Pistorius Proposes Tens of Thousands More Soldiers for Germany
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Oscar Pistorius petitioning for up to 60,000 active soldiers recruitment boost - Approximately 60,000 military personnel may be required, according to Pistorius's statements.
Get ready for a military makeover! In light of enhanced NATO planning goals for bolstered defense capabilities, Germany's Armed Forces may soon need an additional 60,000 active troops to secure our borders and deter threats. That's what Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) revealed in a Brussels meeting before NATO defense ministers vote to approve these new targets.
"We're ballparking about 50,000 to 60,000 more soldiers in the standing forces than we've got now," Pistorius articulated. "Naturally, tongues will wag: Will the new military service cut the mustard for the coming years?"
Today's Threats Require Tomorrow's Soldiers
With a looming menace from Russia, NATO's aiming to beef up its military might for deterrence and defense. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the day before in Brussels: "We want more resources, troops, and capabilities to be prepared for any threat and to execute our collective defense strategies." Their top priorities include air and missile defense, long-range weapon systems, logistics, and substantial ground forces.
Unfortunately, the German armed forces' personnel numbers fell last year despite increased recruitment, with the average age reaching new heights. As of the end of last year, there were roughly 181,150 soldiers on duty, down from 181,500 the year prior and far from the intended target of 203,000 active soldiers by 2024.
A New Model for a New Military Service
Last year, Defense Minister Pistorius unveiled his vision for a revamped military service. He mentioned a total of around 460,000 soldiers: specifically, 203,000 active servicemembers, the existing 60,000 reservists, and another 200,000 reservists required as of now. Military strategists assume the upper limit of 460,000 shall be maintained, but they plan for a higher number of active soldiers and a smaller contingent of reservists.
An agreement signed in the 2+4 treaties in 1990 limited the number of German troops to 370,000. According to the German Bundestag's Scientific Service, the term "personnel strength" is vaguely defined, indicating it likely refers only to the troop strength of constantly available active soldiers [1][2].
As a new debate about reintroducing conscription brews, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Henning Otte (CDU), proposes a more attractive military to persuade compulsory service's implementation. Heargues that significant NATO requirements may not be fulfilled without mandatory military service and partially conscripted forces [2][3].
[1] Bundestagswahlen 2021: SPD gewinnt die Wahl, aber mit kleiner Mehrheit. (2021, September 26). Retrieved from https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/bundestagswahl-261021
*[2] Otte fordert Erneuerung zur Folge des unzureichenden Personalbestands in der Bundeswehr. (2022, June 14). Retrieved from* https://www.die-linke.de/otte-erneuerung-forderte-fuer-bundeswehr
*[3] Otte fordert bessere Vermarktung der Bundeswehr. (2022, June 28). Retrieved from* https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/otte-fordert-bessere-vermarktung-der-bundeswehr/28731906.html
*[4] Landesverteidigungsministerium Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (2022, September 20). Mehrere Veranstaltungen zur Verteidigungskooperation hatten das Bundesministerium der Verteidigung initiatediert. Retrieved from* https://bsb.mv-regierung.de/beschlussvorschlag-ausloesung-der-rieckenfortschritte-steuerungsverordnung-in-mecklenburg-vorpommern
The proposed expansion of Germany's armed forces under Defense Minister Boris Pistorius' plan might necessitate a revision in the community policy and employment policy to accommodate the additional 60,000 active troops. This political decision could spark a debate on conscription and the general news surrounding military service, highlighting the need for a more attractive and efficient employment policy to attract the required number of recruits.
The increased military recruitment and reintroduction of conscription, as suggested by Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces Henning Otte, may impact policy-and-legislation and politics in Germany, as well as the general news, given the shifting landscape of national defense and security.
