Bundesjugendring criticises the debate on the Military Service Modernisation Act

The Bundesjugendring, as the representative body for young people in Germany, questions whether, in the current and long-term defence policy situation, the call-up and obligation of young people to perform basic military service without specialised training is justified in view of the massive encroachment on the civil liberties of young people when highly specialised specialists are needed. Calling up young people in the short term is not part of the solution. If Germany's defence capability is to be significantly strengthened in the short term, there needs to be a social consensus that all population and age groups should contribute - and not focus one-sidedly on young people.

The current debate on the introduction of universal military service narrows the view to the military and reveals a false focus. "If young people are addressed in the public debate with a supposed obligation to contribute and a military service modernisation law is discussed instead of seeing and promoting their commitment to society and democracy, this creates a considerable imbalance," emphasises Daniela Broda, Chairwoman of the Federal Youth Council. Democracy is already being attacked by anti-democratic forces on a daily basis. Democratic civil society - not only in Germany - is under increasing pressure in times of shrinking spaces, which is undermining a fundamental prerequisite for democracy. The Bundesjugendring believes it is important to combat this acute internal threat - especially by empowering young people. It is now time to "modernise" and significantly strengthen the voluntary services. This would explicitly strengthen civilian structures.

The current draft of the Military Service Modernisation Act is not a fair offer for young people - nor does it offer genuine voluntarism. Genuine voluntariness means that all options - without financial disadvantages or social hurdles - can be chosen on an equal footing. There can be no question of this if, for example, a driving licence is paid for young people doing military service, but not for those doing a voluntary social year in a nursing home in the countryside - where it would be just as necessary. This creates a one-sided incentive, especially for young people who are affected by poverty. This is not only a question of social justice, but ultimately also an expression of classism.

Nor can we speak of genuine voluntarism when official government letters to young people unilaterally promote service in the Bundeswehr - while other, civilian volunteering opportunities, such as in civil protection or voluntary services, are not mentioned at all. The German Federal Youth Council has already commented on this in detail.¹:

The Bundesjugendring has been invited to the hearing in the Bundestag scheduled for 10 November 2025 by the Defence Committee, where it will be represented by Chairwoman Daniela Broda. The Bundesjugendring criticises the possible obligation of young people to perform military service in view of the massive restrictions on freedom that this would entail. What is needed instead is genuine voluntary service - and at the same time the strengthening of civilian, democratic structures. Then there would be no need to discuss the introduction of a lottery system.

Statement on the draft of the Military Service Modernisation Act https://www.dbjr.de/artikel/stellungnahme-zum-referentinnenentwurf-des-wehrdienst-modernisierungsgesetzes

For press enquiries at short notice, the DBJR can be contacted at medien[at]dbjr.de

1 https://www.dbjr.de/artikel/freiwilligkeit-statt-pflicht-die-debatte-um-das-wehrdienstmodernisierungsgesetz