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Germany: Bundeswehr ranks shrink despite recruitment drive
Deutsche Welle ^

Posted on 02/02/2024 11:45:51 AM PST by FarCenter

The total number of full-time and reservist Bundeswehr German military personnel shrank by roughly 1,500 in 2023, despite efforts to recruit more troops, Germany's Defense Ministry told the dpa news agency on Friday.

As of December 31, 2023, the total stood at roughly 181,500 men and women, compared to 183,050 at the end of the previous year.

A spokeswoman for the ministry told dpa that the Bundeswehr's goal was still to sustainably increase the size of its ranks.

"We need qualified men and women ready for operations, who will stand ready in sufficient numbers for the tasks and missions ahead," she said.

High employment levels make it a jobseekers' market

The ministry said that demographic and societal changes, given Germany's aging population and high employment rates, were leading to recruitment challenges for all sorts of industries, the military included.

"Out of the competition among jobseekers of the past a competition between employers for personnel — particularly skilled personnel — has developed," the spokeswoman said.

Military recruitment also tends to be age-limited, with the viable recruitment options often in their 20s or 30s, and more rarely deeper into their careers.

The number of Bundeswehr career soldiers and reservists had risen in 2023, according to the ministry, with the overall reduction attrituable to fewer soldiers signed up for a fixed period of service.

(Excerpt) Read more at dw.com ...


TOPICS: Germany; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bundeswehr; german; germanmilitary; military
They may miss their chance to serve the Fatherland on the Eastern Front...
1 posted on 02/02/2024 11:45:51 AM PST by FarCenter
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To: FarCenter

Lol...That’s a good one.


2 posted on 02/02/2024 11:47:47 AM PST by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possible.)
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To: FarCenter

Too many girlie men in Deutschland.


3 posted on 02/02/2024 11:52:23 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: pepsionice

Was passiert hier?


4 posted on 02/02/2024 11:53:13 AM PST by PROCON (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: FarCenter

They need more woke Generals


5 posted on 02/02/2024 11:54:26 AM PST by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.)
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To: FarCenter

Poland could march through Germany for a change.


6 posted on 02/02/2024 11:58:01 AM PST by MMusson
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To: FarCenter

They have lots and lots of women in their military now.

They’re trying hard to fill the gap with diversity.


7 posted on 02/02/2024 12:01:11 PM PST by Red6
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To: FarCenter

Sounds like what is going on here!


8 posted on 02/02/2024 12:09:37 PM PST by Harpotoo (Being a socialist is a lot easier than having to WORK like the rest of US:-))
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To: Jim Robinson

That would be us. 44 globohomo generals. That’s just 4 star!!! (

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_active_duty_United_States_four-star_officers#United_States_Army

All trying to make a name for themselves by promoting LGBTQIA, climate change, and keeping a watchful eye on right wing insurrectionists.


9 posted on 02/02/2024 12:15:28 PM PST by Red6
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To: FarCenter

The previous defense minister was from the party with a platform for elimination of the military.


10 posted on 02/02/2024 12:16:34 PM PST by Gen.Blather (Wait! I said that out loud? )
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To: PROCON

On average yearly, it’s around 1,600 to 1,800 who retire. Last I heard, for NCO’s...age 53 is the max point where you have to exit. Officers, age 59.

On recruitment, they have the same issue as in the US...more opportunities for youth exist. If you live in Baden-Wurttemberg or Bavaria...there’s just a ton of apprentice positions there. Not so much in the East or NW.

New boss for the Bundeswehr came in early in 2023...perceived as a big-step up. They got a bundle of money to upgrade equipment to make up for the Merkel years. It’s just hard to sell a career at this point.

This chatter of allowing non-Germans into the Bundeswehr comes up, but I don’t see how this would work, purely on language requirements. It’d take a year to reach a basic level, from scratch.


11 posted on 02/02/2024 10:45:17 PM PST by pepsionice
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