The Federal Youth Council on the government’s draft bill to strengthen the reserve forces

Although the draft initially outlines a reform of security policy, it has direct relevance to youth policy. This is because many of the proposed provisions concern issues that are significant for young people at key turning points in their lives. It is therefore particularly important for young people to understand the rights, obligations and potential long-term consequences that may be associated with a decision to undertake military service. The following points provide an overview of the aspects of the draft bill that the Bundesjugendring considers particularly relevant.

Voluntary military service can have long-term consequences

The following is particularly relevant for young people considering voluntary military service: voluntary military service lasts for a minimum of six and a maximum of eleven months; the first six months are considered a probationary period. A decision to undertake voluntary military service may not only have short-term effects but, depending on the actual length of service, may also trigger future reserve service obligations. According to the current government draft bill on strengthening the reserves, there will be no compulsory call-up for reserve service for those who have completed less than six months of voluntary military service. By contrast, those who have completed at least six months of voluntary military service could be called up for reserve service until the end of the month in which they turn 45. Anyone who has served for at least one year as a professional soldier or a soldier on a fixed-term contract could be called up for reserve service until the end of the month in which they turn 65.

Reserve service abroad

In principle, reservists should only be called up for overseas assignments if they have voluntarily committed to doing so. However, the draft bill provides for an exception: anyone who has been in active military service for more than one year without interruption may be called up for certain reserve duties abroad even without an additional voluntary commitment. This applies, however, only to duties within an EU or NATO member state or on board ships, boats and aircraft. Armed overseas deployments of the Bundeswehr under the Parliamentary Involvement Act are expressly excluded from this. From the perspective of youth policy, this distinction must be communicated and explained clearly, comprehensibly and transparently by the Federal Ministry of Defence.

Protecting education, studies, career entry and civic engagement

The duration of any compulsory reserve service is also to be staggered according to previous periods of service. In this regard, the draft distinguishes between the maximum total duration of all compulsory reserve service and the maximum duration permitted per year. Anyone who has served for less than one year in an uninterrupted period of military service may be called up for compulsory reserve service for a maximum of six months in total. Such reserve service may last for a maximum of three weeks per year.

Anyone who has served for at least one year but less than four years in uninterrupted military service may also be called up for a maximum of six months in total. The maximum duration per year increases to a maximum of four weeks. Anyone who has served for at least four years but less than 13 years in uninterrupted military service may be called up for a maximum of nine months in total. A single period of reserve service may last for a maximum of six weeks per year. Anyone who has served for 13 years or more in uninterrupted military service may be called up for a maximum of twelve months in total. In this group, a single period of reserve service may last no more than twelve weeks per year.

From a youth policy perspective, it is important to emphasise that even a few weeks per year can have significant consequences, particularly for young people, if they coincide with exam periods, training phases, work placements, probationary periods, fixed-term employment or the start of their careers. Volunteering by young people may also be affected. Whilst the Job Protection Act, as set out in the draft bill, protects employment and service relationships in the event of call-ups, key protective provisions for voluntary reserve service are only intended to apply if the service does not last for more than six weeks in total during the calendar year, or if the employer or employing authority gives their consent. A fixed-term employment contract is not automatically extended by a call-up for basic military service or a military exercise. For young people in training, higher education, at the start of their careers or in precarious employment, this can create considerable uncertainty.

In the view of the Bundesjugendring, reserve service must not result in young people missing exams, jeopardising their training objectives, facing disadvantages in fixed-term employment or being unable to fulfil voluntary responsibilities. This requires fundamental compensation for any potential disadvantages, clear provisions for cases of hardship, the ability to plan well in advance, transparent advice and effective protection against discrimination.

Ensuring transparency in hardship provisions and rights of appeal

The draft provides that voluntary commitments may be revoked under certain conditions. A voluntary commitment may be withdrawn before the expiry of the appeal period against a call-up notice or before certain conditions come into effect. After that, revocation is not permitted. However, it remains possible to apply for an exemption if being called up would cause particular hardship for personal, domestic, financial or professional reasons.

It is particularly important for young people that these rights do not merely exist in theory, but are explained clearly and are accessible in practice. Anyone who decides to undertake service or is called up for reserve service must know what deadlines apply, what options for objection are available and when hardship provisions apply. This requires easily accessible and independent advisory services.

Making the procedures for conscientious objection transparent

The draft distinguishes between those who have not served and those who have served when it comes to applications for conscientious objection. Those who have not served are to submit their application to the Federal Office for Personnel Management of the Bundeswehr, whilst those who have served are to submit theirs to the Bundeswehr Career Centre. Each application must include personal details, a reference to the fundamental right to conscientious objection, a CV and a personal statement explaining the decision based on conscience. For the Bundesjugendring, it is clear that the procedures surrounding conscientious objection – in terms of advice, information and the process itself – must be transparent.

The Bundesjugendring calls for young people and their representative organisations to continue to be involved at an early stage in further consultations on the draft bill. Decisions on security policy that affect young people must be explained in a transparent, understandable and realistic manner. Young people must be able to understand the rights, obligations and long-term consequences associated with a decision to undertake military service. Only on the basis of well-founded, balanced and independent information can they make self-determined decisions.