Tag: troop recruitment

Draft-Age German Men Need Travel Approval

Field jackets hanging at the Bundeswehr stand on August 21 2025 in North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne as the German army looks for new recruits at the Gamescom computer games fair | File Photo: Oliver Berg/dpa

Germany now requires men aged 17–45 to seek approval for stays abroad over three months under its new military service law. The rule supports efforts to track availability as the country works to expand troop numbers.

Germany Starts Draft Process for 18-Year-Olds

Field jackets hanging at the Bundeswehr stand on August 21 2025 in North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne as the German army looks for new recruits at the Gamescom computer games fair | File Photo: Oliver Berg/dpa

Germany’s military has begun sending questionnaires to 18-year-olds as part of the country’s new military service programme. The forms are the first step in assessing interest and suitability for service, as Berlin looks to increase troop numbers under a law that came into force on January 1.