Thursday, August 26, 2010

Changes In The German Military Are Coming

Germany's defense minister wants to shrink the country's army
from 252,000 to 165,000 soldiers. ddp


Will The German Army Drop The Draft? -- Time Magazine

Ending months of speculation, Germany's Defense Minister has outlined a radical plan to restructure the country's armed forces that includes a controversial proposal to end the draft.

If enacted, the changes to the size and structure of German troops will be among the most far-reaching reforms by any member of NATO since the end of the Cold War. At the center of the package of proposals, outlined by Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg on Monday, are plans to reduce troop strength to 163,000 from the current force of about 252,000; make the armed forces — known as the Bundeswehr — less top-heavy by cutting some of the nine existing command centers; and close many of the 403 military bases. The reform also calls for ending conscription and transforming the Bundeswehr into a more professional organization made up of fewer better-trained, better-paid soldiers working with the right equipment to meet today's security needs.

Read more ....

More News On The German Military

Lean and Mean? German Armed Forces to be Restructured -- DefPro
German military may drop draft -- Space War
German Defense Sec'y: Reduce Force to 163,500 -- Defense News
German military may drop draft -- UPI
Germany Weighs the Elimination of Conscription -- Spiegel Online
Germany Considers Major Restructuring of Military -- Voice of America
German defence minister wants to shrink army -- Reuters
German minister wants to suspend conscription and reduce army -- Irish Times
Plan to Suspend Military Draft Opposed by Some Lawmakers in Merkel's Bloc -- Bloomberg
Former defense minister, chief of staff slam Bundeswehr budget cuts -- Deutsche Welle
Germany debates ending the draft -- Krista Kapralos, Global Post

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