Bundeswehr advertises in Chemnitz: Faces test career opportunities!

Bundeswehr advertises in Chemnitz: Faces test career opportunities!

A Bundeswehr event took place in Chemnitz on May 23, 2025, which was organized under the title “Pop-up Career Lounge”. The event focused on recruiting new blood for the armed forces, which needs around 20,000 new personnel every year. One goal is to inform young people about various career opportunities within the Bundeswehr and to inspire them to pursue a military or civilian career. [faz.net](https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/nachwachsen-fuer-die-bundeswehr-willst-du- aktuell-scharfschuetzin- Werden-110493875.html) reports that soldiers painted young people's faces with camouflage colors during the event and had their photos taken with them in front of tanks.

The event, which opened on May 10, 2025 and ran until May 23, 2025, offered participants the opportunity to explore various booths. This included not only information about the Army, Navy and Air Force, but also sporting activities to test physical performance as well as innovative technologies such as exoskeletons and 3D printers. Young visitors were also able to find out about the requirements and opportunities for direct entry into the Bundeswehr. bundeswehrkarriere.de emphasizes that a Luftwaffe music corps also provided musical support for the opening.

Focus on women and challenges for young people

Particular attention was paid to the topic of “Women in the Bundeswehr”. The soldiers report current challenges, such as staff shortages and overtime, which are partly due to a lack of young talent. The Bundeswehr is aware of the competition from regional industry and crafts, which also fight for the attention of young people and offer attractive training positions. Many young people are interested in careers with the police and the armed forces, but some are unsure about their professional future. This highlights the need to increase the attractiveness of military careers in order to attract the required number of new employees.

A soldier explained the basic requirements for joining the Bundeswehr: a minimum age of 17 for military careers and 15 for civilian training, as well as the need for German citizenship. The willingness to work nationwide or abroad was described as a key challenge for many young applicants. In Chemnitz, career advice and medical aptitude tests in one of the Bundeswehr career centers offer support. These career centers are part of the personnel recruitment organization and have the task of offering comprehensive advice and determining the suitability of applicants. wikipedia.org explains that the career centers also hold information events at schools and trade fairs.

Future planning and return to conscription

In Chemnitz, Brigadier General David Markus emphasized the urgency of returning to compulsory military service in order to ensure significant growth in the Bundeswehr. This could create an incentive to increase the attractiveness of a career in the armed forces. Future plans also include writing to all 18-year-olds and inviting them to volunteer. Despite the low number of visitors on the afternoon of the event, which often led to waiting times for the soldiers, the Bundeswehr remains optimistic about recruiting young talent. The final preparations for the next day of the event provided further evidence of the Bundeswehr's commitment to addressing and informing young people.