The German Defense Ministry is planning for a significantly strengthened Bundeswehr or army reserve, to include up to 60,000 men and women, a top official for the army’s reservist affairs told dpa in Berlin.

The ministry is examining the number of people who could potentially be called up to serve in the event of a defense situation. This includes citizens who have previously served in the Bundeswehr but have not been recalled for duty, according to (dpa).

“I am convinced that we must fully adapt the reserve to the current security policy challenges so that it can properly support the Bundeswehr in performing the task of national and alliance (NATO) defense,” dpa quoted deputy inspector general and commissioner for reservist affairs Lieutenant General Andreas Hoppe as saying.

“The goal is to equip and train reserve companies or reserve battalions in such a way that they can be seamlessly integrated into the operational command of a brigade,” he added.

For NATO’s revised defense plans, however, the Bundesw
ehr, which shrank to 181,500 soldiers last year despite a so-called personnel offensive, must actually grow significantly, according to dpa.

Source: Qatar News Agency