Top German General Urges Mandatory Assessment of Young Men for Military Service

Carsten Breuer, Inspector General of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr), speaks in an interview with journalists from the German Press Agency on September 16, 2025, in Berlin | File Photo: Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Berlin: The German military’s inspector general, Carsten Breuer, has said that assessing all young men for potential military service is necessary to avoid losing time in the event of a defence emergency.

“From a military perspective, it is crucial that the entire age cohort is assessed. Only then do we know who is available and who we could call on in a defence situation, which we aim to prevent,” Breuer told the RND media group in remarks published on Monday.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius also supports nationwide assessments of all young men.

Breuer warned that conducting assessments only when a crisis arises would waste critical time. “No one today can say with certainty what the security and threat situation will look like in the coming years,” he said.

Germany’s new military service law, set to take effect on January 1, will initially be voluntary under current plans. Lawmakers from the ruling coalition have proposed drawing young men by lottery for assessments and, if necessary, later also randomly for compulsory service should volunteer numbers remain insufficient.

Breuer said the armed forces should not restrict their operational options. He stressed reliance on volunteers, but added, “If volunteer numbers are insufficient and a mandatory call-up is decided by the Cabinet and Bundestag, we would select those who are most qualified and motivated,” based on actual needs rather than a random system.

Breuer emphasized the importance of time: “By the end of the decade, we need not only a strong active force but also a strong reserve to be ready for defence and to deter potential adversaries.”