The German Bundestag has created the legal basis for new, attractive military service and passed the Military Service Modernisation Act. The main purpose of the new military service is to build up the reserves. At the same time, more soldiers are to be recruited for the active forces. 

In light of the security situation in Europe, the Federal Government is strengthening its national and alliance defence forces. The personnel strength of the Bundeswehr must be adapted to meet NATO capability goals, among other things. By 2035, the armed forces should have more than 260,000 active soldiers and 200,000 reservists at their disposal.

Starting 1 January 2026

The new military service regulations emphasise a voluntary and attractive military service. The law is set to apply beginning 1 January 2026. The Bundesrat still has to approve the law.

From 2026, all 18-year-old men and women will be asked to complete a questionnaire to assess their motivation and suitability for service in the Bundeswehr. Men have to answer the questionnaire, while for women it is voluntary. All those interested are then assessed to determine their suitability for deployment in the Bundeswehr. 

From 1 July 2027, all men born in 2008 and after will be subject to a mandatory medical evaluation. Based on the questionnaires and the muster results, the Bundeswehr can draw on a pool of potential recruits for defence situations.

Bundestag can pass “compulsory military service”

The new military service will rely on volunteering for as long as possible. If the security situation worsens, or if not enough people volunteer to meet the targets, then the Bundestag can pass a law to make military service “compulsory on demand” at the request of the Federal Government. This is intended to close the gap between the Bundeswehr’s requirements and the actual number of personnel available.