Under the compromise, from 2026 every 18-year-old man will undergo a medical examination, while women may do so voluntarily. In the first phase, 20,000 volunteers are planned to be recruited. From mid-2027, an entire age cohort of approximately 300,000 young men will be examined to assess their fitness for military service.
The lottery system, originally planned to make up for recruitment shortfalls, has been removed from the current proposal for the time being, but it could still be introduced later by a new law if there are not enough volunteers.
The Bundeswehr’s strength would be increased to around 260,000 personnel, and in addition 200,000 reservists would be trained – a goal to which the reintroduction of conscription could also contribute.
