Milena from Königs Wusterhausen: soldier in turbulent times!

Milena from Königs Wusterhausen: soldier in turbulent times!

In the middle of the increasing requirements and challenges with which the Bundeswehr is confronted, she urgently searches for new recruits. This becomes particularly clear through the history of 20-year-old Milena from Königs Wusterhausen, who has decided to serve for four years. She is one of the few women in the Bundeswehr and consciously decided against studying to take on practical tasks in the IT battalion 381. MOZ.de reports that the proportion of women in the Bundeswehr is only 13 % and Milena thus in its company an exception represent.

MILENA entered the voluntary military service in 2023, which was originally created for 11 months, but was soon extended to 23 months. Her four -year contract followed in May 2025. It describes the war in Europe and the increased upgrade as a background of its decision, but emphasizes that its motivation is primarily in the professional opportunities that the service offers it. Their company is responsible for communication during battles, and in the last exercises there were realistic drone alarms that prepare the soldiers for the challenges in an emergency.

rising recruits and the focus on women

The focus on recruiting new soldiers has caused the Bundeswehr to take new ground. According to ZDF, applications for the Bundeswehr in 2024 increased by almost 20 %compared to the previous year, which shows that young people are increasingly interested in military service. In 2023 there were already 43,195 applications, which means an increase of 18.5 %. The increase in applicants is particularly striking: Around 1,000 women more than in the previous year have expressed their interest, with a total of 8,200 female applications that now make up 16 % of the total.

But despite this positive development, there are also challenges. The proportion of women in the entire group remains low, especially in comparison to the aim of the Bundeswehr, which strives for a military personnel from 203,000 to 2031. Finally in 2024, the Bundeswehr counted 181,174 soldiers - a decline compared to the previous year. [SPIEGEL] (https://www.spiegel.de/politik/bundeswehr- Mehr-Mehrige-Rekruten-und-weniger-a-2cb4FBC4-F72A6-BBB2-32A697CE4021) reports that this can be attributed to the slowly from experienced soldiers for age reasons.

Focus on the future and training

MILENA already has her plans for the future. After ending her service, she wants to become sergeant and plans to continue her career in the Bundeswehr. She appreciates the camaraderie and the time she can spend with her comrades in the barracks. However, the training is not always perceived as easy: 2023 broke about 5,100 soldiers during the trial period.

The Bundeswehr faces a challenge to offer young people attractive perspectives. This is tried, among other things, through personalized advertising and an increased approach about social media campaigns. The reintroduction of compulsory military service is often mentioned in the current discussion, which could show that the Bundeswehr is seriously interested in winning young talents and making the service more accessible to everyone.

If the positive recruitment trends should last, many young people like Milenas could beat the Bundeswehr, who are willing to make an active contribution to the safety of their country.