Bastian Ernst, President of the Reserves Association of the German Armed Forces and a CDU member, has called upon the Ministry of Defence to make significant efforts to recruit reservists. While acknowledging that the Bundeswehr is currently effective in recruiting active-duty personnel, Ernst stated in an interview with “Die Welt” (Friday edition) that reservists are not yet given the same weight in the recruiting process.
He emphasized that the career centers need to be restructured so that applicants for the reserve service are treated identically to those applying for active duty-a standard that is not yet consistently met nationwide. According to Ernst, this is less a legal issue and more a matter of mindset and execution.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has set an ambitious target: to raise the number of reservists from the current approximately 60,000 to at least 200,000 by 2035. However, Bundestag member Ernst pointed out that there is a major deficit in how reservists and prospective applicants are handled.
Ernst proposed that a new rule should apply to former soldiers: anyone wishing to return should generally be permitted to re-join the Bundeswehr, with exclusions limited to extremists or severe health issues. “Anyone who wants to serve should not be rejected-regardless of whether they have served before or not,” he stressed.
The Association President singled out the challenges faced by adult applicants who have not previously served. He noted that the organization encounters individuals-such as those withdrawing conscientious objection applications-in their 40s or 50s, with families and full lives, who proclaim, “I want to do something. My decision today is different from when I was 18 or 19.” Too often, these individuals face rejection with vague replies like, “That’s not possible,” “It takes too long,” or “This isn’t for you.” Ernst criticized this, saying that asking them for their high school diploma is an inappropriate response. “It cannot be acceptable that these people are made to fail or even refused during the process.”
Currently, there are about 1,000 slots available for non-serving individuals, yet the administrative overhead associated with these few is extremely high. The Association President demanded new solutions, arguing, “We need more flexibility and dynamism. A high school diploma hardly matters for a 45-year-old. The same often applies to older qualifications. People develop. What is crucial is the willingness to serve one’s country. Then, you must look at what that person brings today.”
Ernst also voiced concerns about the inadequacies in the equipment provided to reservists. He lamented the common practice of reservists utilizing materials designated for active troops. He insists this “equipment theft” must stop. Reservists need their own systems-such as rifles, radio equipment, and light vehicles-that match those used by the active force. Furthermore, there are deficiencies in training opportunities; Ernst noted that nothing is more frustrating than being summoned and wanting to commit, but facing no ability to conduct training exercises.
