Military service • Table.Briefings

News | Military service

April 10th, 2026

Ministry of Defense Directive: Men of military age do not need to request permission to travel

Following criticism of the Military Service Act, a decree issued by the Department of Defense provides legal certainty.

By Redaktion Table

News | Military service

April 8th, 2026

Military Service: Ministry of Defense to allow men of military age to take long trips abroad

An exemption from the permit requirement could be issued by administrative regulation as early as this week.

By Redaktion Table

News | Civil defense

February 9th, 2026

Hospitals and charities open to a return of civilian national service

If mandatory national service were reintroduced in the German Armed Forces, civilian service for conscientious objectors would also return. Hospitals and charities have signaled their willingness to participate.

By Lisa-Martina Klein

News | Military service

November 28th, 2025

France introduces voluntary military service

President Macron hopes to see 50,000 volunteers recruited in 2035.

By Gabriel Bub

News | Military service

November 14th, 2025

Germany’s modernized military service: This is what the compromise looks like

Compulsory conscription will start in mid-2027. This is what German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius had insisted on. In future, his ministry will have to report on personnel growth every six months.

By Wilhelmine Stenglin

Soldatinnen und Soldaten der Bundeswehr marschieren bei einer militärischen Zeremonie vor dem Schloss Bellevue in Berlin.

News | New military service

November 12th, 2025

New military service: conscription for all 18-year-olds likely from mid-2027

Today, Wednesday, the Minister of Defense and the coalition parties could agree on the model for the new military service.

By Wilhelmine Stenglin

Feature | Military service

November 10th, 2025

New military service: Why the Bundeswehr's personnel chief is replacing Inspector General Breuer at the public hearing

The last-minute swap of experts leaves room for speculation. Even within the CDU/CSU, support is waning for a lottery-based system for conscription screening.

By Wilhelmine Stenglin

Eine Gruppe von Soldaten der Deutschen Bundeswehr in Tarnuniformen stehen in Formation mit Gewehr Bewaffnet bei einem Militär-Appell

Talk of the town | Military service

November 3rd, 2025

New military service: These three differences still exist

The SPD and CDU/CSU parliamentary groups are dissatisfied with the Federal Ministry of Defense’s formulation aid for the new military service. An agreement between parliamentarians and the ministry is not yet in sight, according to the Bundestag.

By Wilhelmine Stenglin

News | Military service

October 15th, 2025

Military service: Why the BMVg stopped the agreement between the SPD and the CDU/CSU and what a compromise could look like

The Ministry of Defense (BMVg) wants to stick to a mandatory physical examination for everyone from 2027.

By Wilhelmine Stenglin

Feature | Military service

October 13th, 2025

New military service: How a compromise between the CDU/CSU and SPD could be reached

The CDU/CSU is calling for a mechanism in the event that not enough volunteers sign up for the new military service. Negotiators from the CDU/CSU and SPD want to reach a political agreement by Thursday.

By Wilhelmine Stenglin