More money for recruits. Angela Merkel’s government wants to give a new charm to the voluntary military service entered into force on July 1, 2011 – when Germany definitely abolished compulsory military service. In order to achieve such a goal, the government plans to add to soldiers’ salaries the “Kindersgeld”, a monthly allowance that the State generally provides to young people under 18. Although the decision is still being debated, a first confirmation to the implementation of this measure comes from a spokesman of the Ministry of Defence. According to liberals’ financial expert Holger Krestel, indeed, the payment of Kindergeld to soldiers might start next summer, in July, one year after the entry into force of voluntary military service which, up to now, has not proved particularly successful.
Actually, against all expectations, in 2011 enlistments did not decrease and more than eight thousand youths decided to join the German army. The problem, however, concerns those who decided to leave. The period of voluntary military service may last from seven to twenty-three months, but recruits can stop the service within six months from its beginning. Around one forth of people relied on this right and the “Bundeswehr” now has only about six thousand new soldiers.
“We did not expect that”, Minister of Defence Thomas Maizière says. “Nevertheless, it is too early to have a clear and definite picture of the situation”, he concluded.
By contrast, the new civilian service (entered into force together with voluntary military service) registered a huge and unimagined amount of applications. All positions were assigned (35 thousand volunteers), and many candidates were excluded. Red Cross stopped candidacies and Caritas registered an actual boom, with more than 1500 volunteers. Applications exceeded the limits also for the “Freiwillige Soziale Jahr” (the year of social voluntary work), an initiative involving all the graduates who, before starting university, decide to work as volunteers for a year. It is evident that for German youths, civic involvement is much more attractive than the old – or new – uniform. And, certainly, it is not a matter of money.
A civilian service volunteer, indeed, earns around € 330 per month; in some cases food and accommodation are provided free. On the other hand, a soldier may earn up to € 1150 per month and if the Kindergeld initiative was approved, he/she would also receive € 184 more. Since civilian volunteers can rely on a monthly allowance for minors, Government argues that it is necessary to give the same opportunity to future soldiers as well. However, there is no certainty that such a decision will convince more people to enlist into the army. Not only is civilian service shorter, but it also gives youths the chance to grow, in a much broader sense. It represents a good “business card” for people when entering into the labour market. It is that “quid” that in a cv can really make the difference.
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