defense
Association: Check Bundeswehr reservists for suitability
The Bundeswehr is having problems finding enough soldiers. However, there are still some reservists. photo
© Christoph Schmidt/dpa
The chairman of the reservist association is convinced that in the event of a defense, he cannot exist without reservists. He therefore suggests systematically recording Bundeswehr reservists.
The chairman of the reservist association, Patrick Sensburg, has suggested that all former members of the Bundeswehr be systematically checked for their suitability for deployment. The reserve colonel told the “Bild” newspaper that there are around 900,000 former soldiers or conscripts who have reservist status and are under 65 years old.
“We should record their health status and availability very quickly in order to plan them for homeland security and national and alliance defense and to let them practice again step by step. If only half of them are medically capable of doing this, we would almost have them necessary number of reservists that we need.”
Reservists are all former military service members and long-term enlisted soldiers Armed forces. However, this does not include former soldiers of the GDR People’s Army who never served in the Bundeswehr after its end.
Reservists necessary for defense
The former CDU member of the Bundestag and current head of the association explained: “In the event of a defense, we need the reservists to secure our own country and the infrastructure, to provide logistical support to the partner nations in Germany and, last but not least, to replace the fighting troops at the front.” If Germany is attacked and at war, “we will have to think about a second and third wave of defense. These will primarily consist of reservists.”
The Bundeswehr is having problems finding enough soldiers. Despite all efforts to increase staff, their number had fallen to 181,500 men and women at the end of last year. The stated goal is for the Bundeswehr to grow to 203,000 soldiers by 2031.