With proposals for a strengthened reserve of the Bundeswehr, the FDP leadership wants to reaffirm their rejection of a return to conscription. Reservists could become a stronger component in a modern and powerful Bundeswehr, according to a draft resolution that was to be submitted to the party presidium for its deliberations on Monday in Berlin.

It is said that this is how practitioners and professionals are integrated into the Bundeswehr. The paper was presented to the German Press Agency on Sunday.

"Cyber ​​reserve" and opportunities for advancement

"This ranges from IT experts who work part-time, to more people who have military knowledge and reserves for disaster protection in new homeland security units, to top executives who contribute their know-how," it says Draft. The "cyber reserve" could be a role model. The goal is further developed areas of the reserve in which regular use and permanent knowledge transfer between the Bundeswehr, business and civil society takes place.

"It would also be conceivable for self-employed people or employees of a civilian company who do not want to become professional soldiers to voluntarily undertake monthly military exercises or other services within the framework of conceptually developed reserve areas such as the "cyber reserve" over a longer period of time. to perform,” it says in the FDP paper. There could also be an incentive if reservists, as in the USA, could also achieve the rank of general.

Scholz and Pistorius: No return to conscription

Conscription was suspended in 2011 after 55 years, which in practice amounted to the abolition of military and community service. The Russian attack on Ukraine had recently repeatedly triggered a debate on this issue. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (both SPD) spoke out clearly against a return to conscription.

However, Pistorius made it clear that he sees good arguments for general compulsory service to strengthen civil protection, the German armed forces and rescue services. At the same time, he said that young people must be heard on the issue. The FDP immediately reported legal and political concerns about such compulsory service.