Germany has approved a new regulation that obliges men of military age —between 17 and 45 years old— to request authorization from the Army for stays abroad exceeding three months, within the framework of the Military Service Modernization Law in force since last January 1.
Control of exits in the new military model
According to a spokesperson for the German Ministry of Defense explained to the DPA agency, males from the age of 17 must request permission from the career center of the Armed Forces before leaving the country for prolonged periods.
However, the Ministry itself has specified that, while military service remains voluntary, authorization will be granted in a generalized manner, with the aim of avoiding practical restrictions on mobility.
Reinforcement of the recruitment system
The new law introduces as a central measure a mandatory medical examination for those born from 2008 onwards, with which the Government intends to expand the Armed Forces by some 80,000 additional personnel, reaching 260,000 soldiers.
From Defense they underline that this regulation seeks to guarantee that, in case of emergency, the State has knowledge of which citizens are outside the country during prolonged periods.
An obligation without specific sanctions
Although the rule applies even in the absence of crisis or defense situations, the Ministry has recognized that there are no concrete sanctions for those who fail to comply with this obligation.
In fact, official sources have recalled that a similar regulation already existed during the Cold War, although it then had little practical application.
Towards a mixed model of military service
Compulsory military service was suspended in Germany in 2011 after more than five decades in force. However, the new legislation, promoted by the coalition of conservatives and social democrats led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, opts for a system based on volunteering.
Despite this, the text contemplates the possibility of reactivating mandatory mechanisms if voluntary recruitment does not reach the fixed objectives.
Less bureaucracy and margin for exceptions
The Ministry of Defense is currently working on the development of administrative regulations to facilitate the granting of permits and avoid unnecessary bureaucratic burdens.
In this sense, it is foreseen that authorizations be granted provided that there does not exist a concrete provision of military service during the requested period.