Name: Germany inches closer to bringing back mandatory military service
Uploaded: 2025-11-13T16:46:55.926Z
Duration: 1 min 20 s
Description: The newly negotiated compromise, released on Thursday, makes the registration and medical screening of all males over 18 mandatory. A questionnaire will also become compulsory where each applicant must detail their willingness to serve.

The newly negotiated compromise, released on Thursday, makes the registration and medical screening of all males over 18 mandatory. A questionnaire will also become compulsory where each applicant must detail their willingness to serve.

Berlin

Germany has unveiled a revamped military service model, set to take effect on January 1, 2026. Under the new system, all men aged 18 and above will be required to register for potential military service, with approximately 700,000 young people born in 2008 or later expected to complete their registrations.

The law mandates medical screenings and questionnaires to assess willingness to serve, but military service will remain voluntary for the time being. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that if volunteer numbers are inadequate, the government may reintroduce compulsory service through new legislation. The changes are aimed at enhancing Germany's defense readiness and fulfilling NATO commitments by 2035.

Germany inches closer to bringing back mandatory military service

Germany has revamped its military service model, according to an official announcement made on Thursday. Starting from the 1st of January 2026, all men aged 18 and above would be required to register for potential military service. Around 700,000 young people, born in 2008 or later, will be contacted to complete their registrations. The new law also mandates all men of legal age to submit to medical screenings, as well as complete a questionnaire, detailing their willingness to serve. As things stand, military service will remain on a voluntary basis, which Defense Minister Boris Pistorius believes will be enough. We are clearly committed to volunteerism. We are creating an attractive service, the training is changing, the payment is changing, it is changing fundamentally, up to the training on the drone. It is a completely new, wild service that is emerging and has already begun to emerge. However, if things don't go according to plan, Berlin plans to reintroduce compulsory service through a new set of legislative procedures. The move, Pistorius says, is crucial for Germany to enhance its defense readiness, as well as meet its NATO commitments, pledged to achieve by 2035.

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