Reluctant German Military Faces Call for Greater Troop Deployment: Inspectors Urge More Soldiers
Critique of German Armed Forces Structure and Personnel Balance
Bonn – The Federal Court of Auditors has criticized a "top-heavy" structure within the German military and advocates for "greater troop numbers" from the Ministry of Defense to strengthen the armed forces' core mission. The auditors flagged the potential risk of unlimited budget possibilities leading to price increases in the defense sector.
According to the report, industry may seek higher prices for the same level of performance due to almost unlimited financial means and increased demand within the sector. As part of efforts to realign the Bundeswehr in response to the threat from Russia, a special fund of 100 billion euros was initially allocated, followed by a loosening of the debt brake for defense spending.
However, the report indicates a need for action that cannot be addressed solely through additional financial resources, going beyond areas related to armament, infrastructure, and operation.
Review of Priorities Needed
The financial watchdog demands a comprehensive review of tasks, an endeavor yet to be initiated. Kay Scheller, President of the Federal Court of Auditors, emphasizes the necessity of separating "defense-essential" tasks from less critical ones. Significant organizational and personnel changes are required to convert the Bundeswehr into a force that can fulfill its core mission with more troops, warns Scheller.
Initial progress in the equipping of the Bundeswehr and the additional funds cannot mask the need for action in terms of organization and personnel. According to the report, a decrease of around 60,000 military positions is expected between 2010 and 2024, accounting for a 24 percent reduction in personnel. While the number of positions for enlisted and non-commissioned officers has dropped by 40 percent and 20 percent respectively, officer and staff officer ranks have seen a 5 percent increase.
This shift results in an increase in positions for higher-ranking and higher-paid personnel, leading the military personnel structure to become significantly top-heavy compared to 2010. Moreover, several tens of thousands of tasks within the Bundeswehr are still allotted to service posts that the Defense Ministry assesses are unnecessary for purposes of national and alliance defense.
Auditors Assess Ministry's Personnel Structure
The Federal Court of Auditors also reviewed the Ministry itself, which, contrary to previous announcements, has not become leaner. The department remains comparable in size to 2012, with approximately 3,000 service posts. Additionally, the audit notes staffing issues related to the "staffing structure of the military personnel," with tasks often assigned to higher-ranking or better-paid soldiers in an attempt to make those positions more appealing. However, many positions remain unfilled. This has resulted in an overall higher average age among the personnel.
Auditors Skeptical of Debt Plans
The Federal Court of Auditors also raises concerns about new debt possibilities, 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. The auditors further provide defense spending statistics, indicating that total expenditures could reach 96 billion euros if the country commits 2 percent of the GDP in 2028 and 144 billion euros at 3 percent of the GDP.
In the future, the Federal Court of Auditors insists that single plan 14 should not be expanded by "defense-foreign" expenditures. These expenditures have no or only an indirect connection to the defense capability, such as a highway bridge that can be utilized by military transports but is not primarily intended for defense purposes.
For more context, the Bundeswehr is currently undergoing significant changes since 2010, transitioning from a conscript-based force to a professional army. Amidst these reforms, the military faces challenges in recruitment, infrastructure, logistics, and training. Addressing these challenges is vital to ensure the Bundeswehr can perform its core mission effectively in the face of emerging threats and as a contributing member of NATO.
Enhanced recruitment campaigns, renovation of military facilities, modernized training academies, workforce retention measures, increased transparency with NATO allies, and increased defense spending are critical recommendations for overcoming these challenges and ensuring the Bundeswehr's operational readiness.
- The financial watchdog recommends a review of tasks within the Bundeswehr, suggesting the separation of defense-essential tasks from less critical ones, with a focus on conversion into a force that can fulfill its core mission with greater troop numbers.
- Despite the allocation of a special fund and loosening of the debt brake for defense spending, the Federal Court of Auditors finds that the Ministry of Defense, itself, remains comparable in size to 2012, with an issue of staffing structure related to military personnel, resulting in a top-heavy personnel balance.
