Bastian Ernst, the President of the Reserve Association, has welcomed the proposals put forth by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD), which include making training mandatory for reservists in the future and raising the upper age limit for volunteers from 65 to 68.
According to Ernst, mandatory exercises are urgently needed to ensure the reliable deployment readiness of the reserve forces. He stated to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (Friday editions) that this is critically important for Germany’s national security and societal resilience. Ernst affirmed that the association supports the Ministry of Defense and the Minister’s plans, noting that they are actively involved in the ongoing process. He emphasized that the reserve understands its specific responsibility: without a competent reserve, credible deterrence against Russia is impossible.
He views the increase in the volunteer age limit to 68 as a good compromise, as it allows the military to draw upon experienced specialists who wish to serve. The draft Reserve Strengthening Act stipulates that, if urgent operational needs justify it, the call-up for services can happen in individual cases until the end of the month in which the reservist turns 68, provided the service member gives consent.
While Ernst had previously advocated for raising the reservist age limit to 70, he believes the move to 68 is logical. He pointed out that the statutory retirement age is also rising, and people continue to remain fit for longer periods. It is wasteful to neglect the resources of people who possess practical life and professional experience. He concluded that if concerns are raised about youth shortages, attention must also be paid to younger members of the older demographic, and this needs to be enshrined within the Reserve Strengthening Act.
