Defense Minister Secures 10,000 New Military Positions for 2025

In a significant move for the German military, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has been granted approval to create 10,000 new soldier positions along with 1,000 civilian roles within the Bundeswehr for the year 2025. This decision comes as part of a confidential budget plan that aims to bolster Germany's defense capabilities in response to NATO commitments.

Despite stringent budget constraints imposed by Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who mandated a 0.5 percent reduction in staffing across various government departments, the defense sector is exempt from these cuts. Pistorius had previously sought to expand the military's personnel during his tenure in the coalition government but faced obstacles. However, his recent requests have been favorably received, largely due to new financial policies allowing for unlimited military spending funded through additional debt.

Currently, the Bundeswehr employs approximately 183,000 soldiers and around 81,000 civilian staff. This workforce is deemed insufficient as Germany is expected to enhance its contributions to national and collective defense as a NATO member. Plans are underway to increase the total soldier count from the current target of 203,000 to approximately 260,000 personnel, with discussions set to take place at the upcoming NATO summit.

During an internal military personnel conference, State Secretary for Defense Nils Hilmer expressed enthusiasm over the upcoming increase in positions. The new roles will be distributed across various branches of the military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Cyber Command, which is expected to help alleviate existing promotion backlogs.

However, there are concerns regarding the Bundeswehr's capacity to recruit 10,000 new soldiers within the stipulated timeframe. Some military personnel have raised doubts about the feasibility of this target, particularly in light of the existing shortages and unfilled positions among non-commissioned officers.

To address these recruitment challenges, Pistorius is reportedly restructuring the Ministry of Defense. Notable changes include the promotion of Jan Stöß to a third State Secretary position and the appointment of Alexander Götz, previously in charge of infrastructure, to lead a new department focused on military expansion. This new department will oversee the creation of additional barracks and the recruitment of more soldiers. Furthermore, there are indications that the authority of General Inspector Carsten Breuer may be curtailed, with responsibilities for military innovation potentially shifting to the new State Secretary for Armaments, Jens Plötner. The relationship between Pistorius and the General Inspector has been described as tense, leading to speculation about a possible leadership change in the near future.