A growing push to rapidly expand Germany’s reserve forces is prompting a controversial debate about security vetting procedures, with the Reservists’ Association arguing that stringent checks risk hindering recruitment efforts. Patrick Sensburg, chairman of the association, voiced his concerns in an interview with “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, questioning the necessity of extensive examinations aimed at identifying extremist views among potential recruits.
The current vetting process, essential for allowing individuals to receive weapons training, reportedly takes over a year to complete – a timeline Sensburg deems unsustainable given the urgent need to bolster troop numbers. He drew a comparison to the pre-professional army era, where broad-scale security screenings were absent, suggesting that relying on such thorough checks would prevent the recruitment of the projected 200,000 to 800,000 reservists required to meet national security goals.
The proposed expansion of Germany’s military, aiming for a total force of at least 460,000 soldiers and reservists, is largely dependent on the new mandatory service initiative. However, Sensburg expressed skepticism about the feasibility of achieving this target solely through the reintroduction of mandatory service, arguing that it appears “very ambitious and will be difficult” to realize. Those completing mandatory service automatically transition to the reserve force.
Beyond the vetting process, Sensburg emphasized the need to incentivize employers to release reservists for training exercises, currently a significant obstacle to maintaining operational readiness. He further proposed an alternative strategy: “a mandatory social year” offering placements within organizations such as the Bundeswehr (armed forces), fire departments, the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), or civil defense structures. This, he argues, represents a more effective approach to reaching the desired manpower objectives than reliance on the current, protracted and potentially exclusionary security vetting system. This suggestion underlines a deepening unease regarding the potential trade-offs between security protocols and the urgent need to expand Germany’s military capabilities in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
