Overview
- About 40,000 surveys went out in the first four weeks of 2026, with early replies in but not yet representative and fuller insights expected within two to three months.
- The government set a 2026 goal of recruiting 20,000 volunteers, and the defense minister said recent trends make that target achievable.
- Germany hired more than 25,000 soldiers in 2025, bringing active strength to roughly 184,200, the highest level in over a decade.
- Under the reform now in force, 18‑year‑old men must complete the questionnaire and undergo assessment, while joining the military remains voluntary.
- The law provides a contingency needs‑based draft if targets are missed, and planners are preparing more than 40,000 accommodation places with potential reactivation of unused barracks.