Underage Recruits – D: Leftists Criticize ‘Militarization’ of Youth

Volunteering in the Bundeswehr is permitted from the age of 17, with parental consent. According to the Bundeswehr, if interested parties had to wait until their 18th birthday to begin their training, they would be at a disadvantage compared to those who start their careers in the civilian sector at the same age. In principle, 17-year-old soldiers would not be sent into action, but this is emphasized in the answer to the question.

Left: “Protection of minors has been completely abandoned”
The number of young recruits is nevertheless a cause for criticism for Nicole Gohlke, spokeswoman for the left-wing education policy in the Bundestag: “The federal government seems to have completely abandoned the protection of minors from militarization,” she told the German Press Agency in Berlin, also criticizing the actions of Bundeswehr youth officers in schools. School must be a politically neutral and safe place and political education must be independent and age-appropriate. “This deliberate and increasing recruitment of young people is unacceptable.”

Ministry: ‘No advertising by youth officers’
The Ministry of Defense rejected the accusation of militarization, also in connection with junior officers. They also took part in the discussion with critical views on the army. “The junior officers do not recruit young people,” it says in their annual report. The career counselors of the Bundeswehr are responsible for this topic. The junior officers are intended to provide information on fundamental military and security policy issues and operations of the Bundeswehr and come to schools by invitation.