Bundeswehr (German military) Contemplates Enlisting Foreigners

Tidewater

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Germany's military is struggling amid rising tensions with Trump and Russia, and now it's thinking about asking foreigners to join

I thought this was interesting. Germany does not spend much on defense (1.13% of GDP). Germans do not see much of a threat. The prestige of the Bundeswehr in German society is fairly low and getting Germans to volunteer is getting harder.

There is talk of a German passport at the end of this service for foreigners who sign up.

Earle, I think we are too old, so this ship has sailed for you and me.
 

seebell

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Germany's military is struggling amid rising tensions with Trump and Russia, and now it's thinking about asking foreigners to join

I thought this was interesting. Germany does not spend much on defense (1.13% of GDP). Germans do not see much of a threat. The prestige of the Bundeswehr in German society is fairly low and getting Germans to volunteer is getting harder.

There is talk of a German passport at the end of this service for foreigners who sign up.

Earle, I think we are too old, so this ship has sailed for you and me.
Oh, I don't know TW. I can picture you and Earle as tank commanders. A sit down job with no marching. Kinda like Michael Dukakis on the campaign trail. :biggrin2:

Wow! Germany's army has really shrunk in size.

Tidewater's first enlistment.


 
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Tidewater

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I thought they flew the Eurofigher?

Wow, I had no idea that the German military had fallen so far.
Yes, the Eurofighter is the Luftwaffe's main fighter now.

With the end of the Cold War, Germany was one of the countries that bought into the idea of a peace dividend, greatly reduced the size of its armed forces, and got rid of conscription (in 2011).
My German colleagues admit privately that soldiering is not a well-respected career in today's Germany (for obvious reasons)
 
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Its On A Slab

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Yes, the Eurofighter is the Luftwaffe's main fighter now.

With the end of the Cold War, Germany was one of the countries that bought into the idea of a peace dividend, greatly reduced the size of its armed forces, and got rid of conscription (in 2011).
My German colleagues admit privately that soldiering is not a well-respected career in today's Germany (for obvious reasons)
I have read that they weren't very happy with the F-104s. I don't think anyone was. Really fast plane, but squirrelly. Prone to crashes.
 

Tidewater

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I have read that they weren't very happy with the F-104s. I don't think anyone was. Really fast plane, but squirrelly. Prone to crashes.
I don;t think anybody was. I've heard USAF guys call them "lawn darts," but I'm not sure whether this was alluding to the shape of the plane or its tendency to crash.
 

Tidewater

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I am also reading that the current aircraft inventory in the Luftwaffe is not in good shape, maintenance-wise. They need to step up their game.
The Typhoon/Eurofighter, is potentially very good, but expensive. Like most big-ticket items, has some kinks.
The Tornado is a venerable old system, but now long in the tooth.
 

TIDE-HSV

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Germany's military is struggling amid rising tensions with Trump and Russia, and now it's thinking about asking foreigners to join

I thought this was interesting. Germany does not spend much on defense (1.13% of GDP). Germans do not see much of a threat. The prestige of the Bundeswehr in German society is fairly low and getting Germans to volunteer is getting harder.

There is talk of a German passport at the end of this service for foreigners who sign up.

Earle, I think we are too old, so this ship has sailed for you and me.
It sailed for me a lot longer ago than for you. :D OTOH, I can think of worse times to have dual German citizenship... :)
 

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