Five months after launching the questionnaire campaign for the new military service, the Federal Ministry of Defence has reported a “positive balance.” Approximately 298,200 letters were sent out in total. Of these, 153,200 were addressed to males, and about 145,000 were addressed to individuals of other genders.
Within the set deadline, around 96 percent of the male recipients responded to the survey. For the remaining four percent, the administration of a regulatory violation procedure is being reviewed. In contrast, the response rate among individuals “of other genders,” who are not obligated to answer the questionnaire, stood at only four percent.
Regarding interest levels, more than one in five men expressed interest in military service, while 55 percent of women showed interest, though their participation was voluntary. These figures translate to roughly 30,000 interested men and around 3,200 interested women out of the 298,200 young people contacted-and even these figures represent interest at varying degrees.
For the male participants, the average interest score-on a scale of 1 (little interest) to 10 (a lot of interest)-was around “five.” Among those who did not mark zero, 50 percent rated their interest between 1 and 4, 15 percent rated it as 5, and 35 percent rated it between 6 and 10. For individuals of other genders who did not mark zero, interest was distributed as follows: 46 percent rated it 1-4, 16 percent rated it as 5, and 38 percent rated it as 6-10.
Based on the questionnaire returns, approximately 1,500 assessments or suitability checks have been completed so far, with another 600 appointments currently scheduled. Around 80 percent of the male participants who underwent the mandatory check were determined to be fit for military service.
The Ministry of Defence reported that after cross-referencing personal aspirations with the needs of the Bundeswehr, more than 530 interested individuals could be confirmed for military service in 2026. Roughly two-thirds of those interested are currently unavailable for one or two more years due to ongoing schooling or training. Furthermore, men who showed no interest in the survey will soon be invited for mandatory assessments. This selection process will be based on proximity to their place of residence and available regional assessment capacities. These checks will be progressively expanded to ensure that, as mandated by the Military Modernization Act, all 18-year-old males are assessed starting July 1, 2027.
The Ministry also noted that troop recruitment is generally advanced. Concurrently, standard recruitment and assessment appointments are taking place at the Bundeswehr’s career centers through “classic” personnel acquisition channels. In 2026, approximately 38,500 applications were received through these channels, resulting in about 11,000 hires across all career paths. This represents a positive increase of approximately 24 percent in applications and 13 percent in new hires compared to the same period last year. Given this overall positive trend in personnel recruitment, the Ministry of Defence believes that the staffing targets outlined in the Soldier Act will be achieved in 2026.
