Esra Limbacher, the vice president of the Reserves Association and an SPD member, defended the plans proposed by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) that call for increased obligations for reserve personnel, despite facing criticism.
Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” (Saturday edition), Limbacher stated that the Defence Minister’s proposal serves as an important signal. He emphasized that the deployment of many citizens as reservists within the Bundeswehr is not a personal pastime, but rather a service to the nation. According to Limbacher, the current system of dual voluntarism makes reliable planning impossible when truly critical moments arrive.
Limbacher clarified that serving in the reserve is not merely a requirement, but an expression of conviction, sense of responsibility, and camaraderie-a commitment to standing up for the country. This is precisely why, he argued, this “essential pillar of the security architecture requires a necessary degree of commitment”. He stressed that the reserve forces must be quickly available and operationally ready in an emergency, which necessitates clear commitments concerning training and exercises.
Given the current state of security policy, the vice president of the Reserves Association argued that Germany cannot afford a reserve force whose operational capacity relies exclusively on voluntary participation. Only through such definitive commitments can the stable and reliable foundation of a strong German reserve be established.
