The German army sees a 28% increase in the number of recruits
The German Ministry of Defense announced that the number of new military recruits increased by 28% from the beginning of January to the end of July, compared to the same period last year.
This comes as part of preparations to bolster NATO defenses in light of what Germany sees as a growing threat from Russia.
The German Ministry of Defense reported on Thursday that more than 13,700 people joined the Bundeswehr – which includes the army, air force, navy, and special forces – during this period, noting that this increase is the highest in years.
Germany aims to increase its active-duty troops to 260,000 by the 2030s, up from 183,000 currently, in line with new NATO objectives and to strengthen national defense capabilities, as part of an expanded plan to increase military spending after financial constraints were eased this year.
The German Ministry of Defense also reported increased interest in joining the armed forces, with the number of initial consultations increasing by 11% and applications by 8%.
In the German military’s civilian sector, applications increased by a remarkable 31%.
It’s worth noting that Germany abolished compulsory military service in 2011, resulting in the absence of an organized database of those eligible for service.
Starting next year, the government is scheduled to require every 18-year-old to complete a digital questionnaire to assess their desire to join the military.
