One period to fill and send
The respondents to the survey are those born in 2008, who have reached adulthood since early January. The letter includes a QR code to an online form containing questions about education, professional situation, wellness and physical fitness and a declaration of any interest in the military service.
The work to complete the form only applies to men who have a period to do so and must send the data electronically; women may participate voluntarily. Failure to answer or to supply false information may consequence in a fine of up to EUR 1000.
The survey's interest in the military service is determined on a scale of 0 to 10, with those declaring a full deficiency of willingness to join the army finishing the form here. However, the Bundeswehr points out that all men of this year's yearbook will in the future be called on a compulsory medical commission, regardless of the erstwhile declarations. The survey does not specify the circumstantial duration of service – the candidate may declare a period of respective months to more than six years.
Failure to answer shall be treated as an offence for which a fine of up to EUR 1000 threatens, as well as for providing false information.
Broader strategy
The actions of the German military are part of a broader government strategy on state security, assuming an increase in the army's size from the present about 184 1000 to 260 1000 soldiers by 2035. Voluntary service remains the basis, but the law provides for the anticipation of conscription in case of circumstantial defence needs.
The service in the Bundeswehr involves a wage of about EUR 2600–2650 gross per month, and with at least an yearly service the amount increases to EUR 2700 with accommodation. In addition, persons serving for more than 12 months may receive a supplement to the driving licence course – EUR 3500 for the cat. B or EUR 5000 for Cat C/CE.
Discrimination but not positive
Unfortunately, the situation one more time shows discrimination against men, in this case in terms of the work to defend their homeland. What is an work for a man is an option for a woman. This issue is raised regularly besides in our country. On 7 March 2025, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said under the Sejm meeting:
Work is underway to prepare large-scale military training for all adult man in Poland. So that the reserve is adequate for possible risks. We want the model ready by the end of the year.
Then I spoke to Jakub Chabik, president of the Association for Boys and Men about the problem of unequal treatment between men and men.
These words are further dividing Poles into better and worse – assessed Chabik in our conversation. – Men are brought back to conventional stereotypical roles – this time defenders. To the already existing forms of discrimination – unequal retirement age, unequal wellness and safety standards, unequal parental benefits, unequal treatment in education or courts – 1 more thing to add: unequal defence obligations. Meanwhile, women successfully service in all kinds of weapons and are excellent in the military. Modern battlefields are not only trenches and rifles, where actually the physical advantages of men are important, but besides logistics, intelligence, cyberspace, drone piloting or critical infrastructure protection. These are issues where women can work as well as men. Poland will be strong not with “gun meat” but with the resilience of the full country. Above all, the sense of community flowing from the fact that there are no better and worse ones, those with greater responsibilities and those from the work of being released. Equal rights are equal obligations. We live in troubled times and care for the common good must be an overriding goal. But by deepening existing and building fresh divisions, we weaken alternatively than strengthen the state. So if the work of defence is the same for all. Depending on the needs of the military and individual predispositions, not on gender, it should depend on the form of its implementation.
