Conscription
Universal conscription stands for the citizens' willingness to bear their share of the responsibility for protecting their community. During the past decades, millions of young men have performed military service in the Bundeswehr for the good of their country.
Beginning in December 2010, the period of basic military service will be reduced to six months. This applies to all conscripts called up as of 1 July 2010.
The six-month term must be completed as one uninterrupted period. If necessary, the first two months of basic training may be followed by an additional month of training. After this initial phase, the soldier assumes his functional post.
Quality remains a top priority throughout the new six-month term of service. The Bundeswehr continues to provide training of the highest standard in a modern and efficient team.
Conscripts who are sufficiently qualified have the option to voluntarily extend their military service to a maximum of 23 months. In this case the voluntary service conscripts receive a bonus in addition to their monthly military pay.
Voluntary extension of basic military service is only possible if the conscript agrees to be deployed on Bundeswehr operations abroad. Male conscripts serving only the standard six-month term are excluded from taking part in operations abroad. Of course, conscripts can also apply to become an NCO or officer as a temporary-career volunteer.
Following the end of his service period, the conscript becomes a reservist. Together with the active soldiers, reservists constitute the core of the Bundeswehr′s defence capability and of its ability to honour obligations within the Alliance. Conscription is the only means of building up effective national defence against an attack by conventional armed forces within a reasonable time frame.
