The head of the German Reservists’ Association has called for raising the age limit for reservists, arguing that older volunteers could help strengthen Germany’s defence capabilities amid recruitment shortfalls.

Association president Bastian Ernst said the current age cap of 65 should be increased to 70, noting that people are remaining physically fit for longer as retirement ages rise.

“We should not waste the resources of people with life and professional experience,” Mr Ernst told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, emphasising the need to draw more heavily on older age groups due to shortages among younger recruits.

His comments came ahead of an announcement by defence minister Boris Pistorius, who is expected to present a new military strategy on Wednesday, along with a report on the armed forces’ capabilities.

Under current rules, reservists are not required to participate in military exercises, and both they and their employers must agree to their involvement in a system that has faced longstanding criticism.

Mr Ernst argued that employers should no longer have the right to object if reservists are called up for exercises, although participation should remain voluntary for reservists themselves.

Germany plans to expand its armed forces to at least 260,000 active soldiers and 200,000 reservists by 2035.

The reserve force is expected to be largely built from individuals completing a new form of military service, for which the legal framework has been in place since the beginning of the year.

However, the exact number of reservists remains unclear.

Mr Ernst noted that between eight and nine million people have previously served in the military, with around 60,000 currently assigned and available at short notice.

The reservists’ association itself has approximately 110,000 members.

(dpa/NAN)