Five and a half years ago, the German army was fully transferred to the contract basis. But last year, the German Ministry of Defence has announced a radical revision of the set of personnel policies - by reducing to an increase in. But where to find the new recruits? DW correspondent visited metropolitan showroom Bundeswehr.
Smiling young man opened the door, greeted loudly and professionally respond to any questions. Captain Ferdinand Storm (Ferdinand Storm) commanded the Berlin showroom of the German Army - a unique institution of its kind, a kind of "boutique" for the sale of career opportunities in the German army.
After the abolition in 2011 of compulsory military service in the Bundeswehr went completely a contract basis, and since then the number of new recruits has been steadily declining. As part of the campaign to raise the attractiveness of military service in November 2014 the Bundeswehr has opened a showroom in the heart of Berlin, opposite the station "Friedrichstrasse".
Since about 20 thousand people has been here. The showroom is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 17 pm. On a typical day, 30-40 people come here, a quarter of them - a woman (they open the way to the army on an equal basis with men). As they say showroom employees, about half of the visitors looks out of idle curiosity, the second half - with specific questions about the possibilities of career development and education during military service.
The German army is struggling to present itself to the public as an attractive employer. Showroom in the center of Berlin - just one of those measures. Last year was launched on Youtube series called Rekruten about the everyday life of the Bundeswehr recruits. Not his shooting Defense Ministry spent 1.7 million euros, and advertising on the Internet and on street posters - six million more, causing anger not only the media but also pacifist MPs.
And said a fiery speech, noting in particular that any sexual orientation at the beginning of 2017, the Bundeswehr conducted a seminar on equality of sexual minorities, on which von der Lyayen Defense Minister Ursula (Ursula von der Leyen) - is something quite normal, "as the color eye".
His progressive approach Bundeswehr increasingly resembles a global international concern, but not a classic army. At the moment, in the ranks of the Bundeswehr are serving about 177 thousand people. After the end of the Cold War, the number of German army steadily declined, and only in May 2016, Defense Minister von der Lyayen announced a fundamental change in the personnel policy - according to her, against the backdrop of new threats it is time to not only increase the military budget, but also the size of the army.
"We need to move away from a permanent reduction in the number of Bundeswehr and go in the direction of modern organized army, which looks to the future and realize what problems it will solve and what kind of people to do this, train and retain", - stated the Minister in May 2016. The new German government's plans include increasing the size of the Bundeswehr from the current 168,000 to 198,000 people by 2024.
As told by Ferdinand Storm, today in the German army is most lacking information technology specialists, and nurses, and representatives of a number of professions to serve in the Navy. Storm finds himself an army not only reliable, but also ideologically attractive place to work. And not only on duty.
"First, you do not just work in the Bundeswehr, and you give the public debt. Do not close the office at the end of the day and forget about everything that he did, and the benefits to society. In our country - a first-class political system, free and democratic society that we are proud to defend - he explains. - Secondly, the Bundeswehr offers a lot of opportunities for learning. Hence, no one goes to the same level of qualification, which came - always better educated and trained ".
Few visitors to the showroom contact with journalists are reluctant, refusing to answer questions.
For many young men and women from the first visit to the showroom can begin a military career - if they pass the interview and admission tests for fitness for military service.
According to opinion polls, the majority of Germans support the rejection of compulsory conscription and the transition to a fully professional army. This means that the Bundeswehr will continue to compete with civilian employers of educated young professionals.
"Our advantage - reliability - smiles Captain Storm. - The Bundeswehr is the employer who will never go broke ".