Bastian Ernst, president of the Reserves Association of the Bundeswehr, expressed skepticism regarding the current voluntary service model. He stated to the “Rheinische Post” on Friday that it will only be evident in the coming years whether the figures announced by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius can be achieved without mandatory conscription.
Despite his caution about the model, Ernst welcomed the high return rate of the questionnaires related to the new military service. The CDU politician noted that the fact that approximately 96 percent of young men completed a Bundeswehr questionnaire was welcome news. This, he said, mirrored observations he has frequently made in discussions with young people: they are aware of the necessity of defending the democratic system and are ready to take responsibility.
Furthermore, in Ernst’s view, the increased numbers of applications and recruitments into the Bundeswehr underline the sense of responsibility within the younger generation.
