The end of 'double voluntariness'

The German Defence Ministry has published a draft bill, the Reservestärkungsgesetz (Reserve Strengthening Act), that would fundamentally alter the status of the Bundeswehr's reserve forces. Currently, participation in military exercises is governed by a principle of 'double voluntariness': both the reservist and their employer must agree to the service. The new law would abolish this, making drills mandatory for former soldiers in peacetime. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, speaking in Montreal, stated that while military service itself is voluntary, those who enlist know that an obligation to attend reserve exercises follows. He argued that a reliable reserve "cannot be based on voluntariness."

“For us it is important that this cannot be based on voluntariness. That is why there will be an obligation.”

Staggered obligations by age and service

Under the draft, the obligation to serve in the reserve is tiered. Individuals who completed at least six months of voluntary military service can be called up until the month of their 45th birthday. Those who served for at least one year as a professional or fixed-term soldier face a duty lasting until the month of their 65th birthday. The maximum duration of mandatory annual exercises is also staggered: those with less than a year of prior service face up to three weeks per year and a lifetime cap of six months, while those with 13 or more years of service can be required to train for up to twelve weeks annually, capped at twelve months in total. In a state of tension or defence, an unlimited draft obligation applies up to age 60.

Less than 1 year service3

Up to 4 years service4

13+ years service12

Less than 1 year service

3 weeks

Up to 4 years service

4 weeks

13+ years service

12 weeks

Data from the article text

Exceptions for emergencies and abroad

Not all deployments will be compulsory. The draft law specifies that domestic disaster relief and most foreign missions remain voluntary for reservists. An exception exists for deployments in other EU and NATO states under certain conditions, where mandatory service could apply. The law is designed to ensure that the reserve can be used for the fulfilment of the armed forces' constitutional mandate within the Defence Ministry's remit, moving beyond the previous limitation that only allowed mandatory call-ups for exercises outside of a state of tension or defence.

Employer obligations and financial incentives

Employers will lose their current veto power over an employee's reserve service. The draft law obliges companies to release staff for exercises up to a certain limit, a practice Pistorius noted was standard until the 1990s. To mitigate the burden, the government plans financial incentives. Small and medium-sized enterprises can apply for subsidies when they release employees. Reservists themselves will see improved pay, including higher overseas allowances. The ministry estimates additional annual costs of around 43 million euros for the years 2027 to 2029.

“The employers may forgive me.”

Building a 200,000-strong reserve

These measures are part of a broader push to expand the Bundeswehr to 260,000 active soldiers and a 200,000-strong reserve by the mid-2030s, up from roughly 183,000 active personnel and around 60,000 assigned reservists today. The ministry cites Russia's war against Ukraine and NATO commitments as the driving security rationale. The Reservistenverband, representing about 110,000 members, has welcomed the draft law. Its president, Bastian Ernst, said reservists are highly motivated and the law demonstrates the weight the reserve carries in national and alliance defence. The government aims to approve the bill in cabinet before the summer recess, with parliamentary passage possible after the break.

“The reservists are highly motivated to get involved in the Bundeswehr, so we as an association can only support the Reserve Strengthening Act.”