The reforms are aimed at realigning the German army to better reflect the nation's post-Cold War needs, Karl zu Guttenberg told a military conference in Dresden. They are a major step for a country that has been reluctant to send its soldiers overseas, mindful of its role in instigating two world wars.
It is the first time Mr Guttenberg has given a date to end conscription and a concrete number of troops. He said his ministry would be finalising the details of the raft of cuts and changes that will accompany the restructuring in the coming weeks. Parliament is expected to pass the measures in December.
Despite now having 250,000 troops, only 7,000 are currently deployed at any one time, due mostly to the limited term most conscripts serve. Mr Guttenberg underlined that the reforms were aimed at slimming the nation's military and helping it meet 21st-century needs.
The most important change will be that young German men will no longer be called up for obligatory military service. Instead volunteers will serve between 12 to 23 months volunteer term of service, with soldiers able to deploy abroad after six months of service.
Mr Guttenberg hopes that will allow at least 10,000 troops to be deployed abroad in the future.http://www.straitstimes.c...ory/STIStory_606352.html


