Reluctant German military: inspectors call for increased troop numbers

Reluctant German military: inspectors call for increased troop numbers

German Armed Forces Faces Personnel Challenges, Criticized for Being 'Head-Heavy'

The Federal Audit Office has criticized the German armed forces, or Bundeswehr, for a disproportionate number of leadership and administrative personnel, terming it as a "head-heavy" situation. The auditors have called on the Ministry of Defense to increase the number of troops to support the military's core mission, citing potential price increases in the defense sector due to the perception of unlimited financial resources.

In response to the perceived threat from Russia, a special fund of 100 billion euros was initially allocated, and a relaxation of the debt brake for defense spending was decision. However, a new report from the Federal Audit Office suggests that additional financial means cannot resolve the issue, which extends beyond armament, infrastructure, and operations.

The financial watchdog insists on a comprehensive review of tasks, emphasizing the need for separation of defense-important tasks from less critical ones. Significant changes in organization and personnel are required to make the Bundeswehr fit for its core mission with more troops, according to Kay Scheller, President of the Federal Audit Office.

Initial progress in the material equipment of the Bundeswehr and the additional funding should not mask the need for action in organization and personnel. The report reveals that the armed forces had around 60,000 fewer military personnel positions available in 2024, representing a 24% decrease compared to 2010. While the number of positions for soldiers and non-commissioned officers decreased by 40% and 20% respectively, the number of positions for officers and staff officers increased by 5%.

This shift has resulted in the proportion of positions for officers and staff officers in the armed forces growing from 15% in 2010 to 21% in 2024, a state that the auditors find extremely undesirable. Furthermore, several tens of thousands of service posts in the Bundeswehr are currently allocated for tasks deemed unnecessary for territorial and alliance defense by the Ministry of Defense. The auditors deem this magnitude as unacceptable.

The Federal Audit Office also criticizes the allocation structure of military personnel, where higher-ranking or better-paid soldiers are assigned tasks to boost the attractiveness of these positions. However, many positions remained unfilled, and an increasing number of professional soldiers has led to an overall increase in the average age.

The auditors also question the new debt-financing options, stating that a sustainable and solid financing of the defense capability of the Federal Republic of Germany is not guaranteed by a debt-financed and structurally unsound budget. They have also provided figures on defense spending, suggesting that spending of 96 billion euros in 2028 would correspond to two percent of GDP, and spending of 144 billion euros to three percent of GDP.

Furthermore, the auditors demand that special plan 14 (defense spending) should not be expanded to include "defense-irrelevant" spending and that highway bridges, even if they can be used for military transports, cannot be considered defense capability, thus not eligible for budget allocation.

Context: The Bundeswehr is actively working to address the "head-heavy" issues by increasing troop numbers, reconsidering conscription, and enhancing personnel recruitment to transform its structure and meet contemporary defense requirements. With a current active duty strength of approximately 180,000 and plans to expand to around 203,000 by 2031, the Bundeswehr faces significant challenges in recruitment and retention due to its increased responsibilities, especially in light of the ongoing security challenges posed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. To meet NATO obligations and ensure operational readiness, an additional 100,000 soldiers are estimated to be required.

1. The auditors have emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive review in both tasks and personnel within the defense industry, as the Bundeswehr's disproportionate number of officer and staff officer positions is a significant concern, growing from 15% in 2010 to 21% in 2024.
2. Amidst the finance sector, concerns have risen over the Bundeswehr's allocation structure, where higher-ranking positions are assigned to boost attractiveness, yet many remain unfilled, leading to an overall increase in the average age of personnel.
3. In politics and general news, the Federal Audit Office has stressed the importance of separating defense-important tasks from less critical ones to ensure that the Bundeswehr is fit for its core mission with more troops, as highlighted in the Bundeswehr's plans to expand from approximately 180,000 to around 203,000 by 2031.

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