Hey! Howz that! Aint that great news!!

By:Adali Barth

Folks, I am pretty sure this was the reaction, the feeling of exhilaration, that
each German Time soldier experienced, on hearing “Germany has adjourned
conscription for male citizens on the 1st of July 2011”..While conscription will
not be officially abolished from the Constitution, it will no longer be enforced.

Previously, there were special laws for e.g., Wehrpflichtgesetz, whereby each
time soldier( in german Zeitsoldat )was compelled to serve six months either
in the military, which he could refuse and do an alternative civilian service or
honorary service for at least six years in a civil protection organization.
Families of those who were oppressed by the Nazi regime and the females,
were the only ones who were exempted from conscription. The basic training in
the German federal defense forces-the Bundeswehr, consisted of two months
of combat training, then four month service at the assigned post. The
conscripts were not to be deployed to active service in the conflict theaters
against their will, they could also volunteer for a service extension if they
wished to partake in missions. As a part of the feasibility of the conscientious
objection, the German “Basic Law”, the time soldier had to give a declaration in
writing that he would opt to perform civilian service, that would generally last
for six months during which he would find employment with a civilian
institution that renders a public service, that included kindergarten, hospital,
rehabilitation center, or assisted living facility for the elderly.

The BFD Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and
their civil administration as well as their procurement authorities. Since the
States of Germany are not permitted to maintain armed forces of their own,
as the German Constitution states that the matters of defense falls under the
sole responsibility of the federal government. The Bundeswehr is divided into
the military as well as the civil part, which may not exceed an active strength
of 370,000 , in addition to its 350,000 reserved personnel. The Bundeswehr
was officially established on the 200th birthday of Scharnhorst on 12th of
November 1995. Not to forgo the fact that it was the backbone of NATO's
conventional defense in Central Europe, during the Cold War.

Become a soldier and be a proud about your

nation.
Choosing a military school in Germany is a very crucial decision after the
primary education. Parents as well as children get an array of choices, when
they have to choose between two best things in life. The German education
differs from the world education in many ways. Life in a German military school
is far more different from the usual boarding schools. These schools are more
intense in giving students more disciple than other schools, the punishments
are severe if the rules are broken. More emphasis is given to live life in a
disciplinary way. Recent study shows that there are more than 400 hundred
schools coming up n Germany, which will not only provide the military
educations but also vocational curses. Also there is a good news for the people
who have a financially weak background, compensation ( in german
Abfindung ) is provided, in terms of money, for such families so that talent of
such students is not wasted.

Special military schools provide all the necessary facilities, and produces world
class soldiers on the battle field. The athletic facilitates allows the cadets to
concentrate their energies. Various sports programs like volley ball, football,
basket ball etc. boasts the power of their body allows them to remain sturdy.
The young cadets are slowly instilled into the environment of discipline and
hard work by the wearing the uniforms for the first time. At the later stages
the cadets earn different ranks and awards as per the performances.
Leadership training is provides as and when the years pass by and the
students come across the different situations which are discussed during that
phase. The cadets are explained, how these lessons are important during the
time of war or intervention and security.

Talking about the other aspects like the vocational education, there is a wide
scope of choices provided in terms of courses. The courses offered are time
specific and the soldier undergoing such short term of long term courses are
called as soldiers on time ( in german Soldaten auf Zeit ). Right from the
physical training to the spirituality, everything is included in the syllabus. Each
and every cadet can be benefited from the military schools in Germany. Strong
academic career is the basic need for the individual to become independent,
which in furnish into the person studying in the German military academy.

“Another feather in the cap” for our soldiers!!!

“Wow! What a moment of glory that was! The memory is still fresh as if it had
occurred just yesterday. It was the unforgettable feat in the history of
mankind; indeed toO-good-to-be-true, as the German Army turned 50.
Germany's armed forces concluded the fervor, the merriment, the celebrations
to mark the years of its existence on Saturday, November12.; marking the
50th anniversary of German's postwar military, especially exciting as the
presence of German troops was unimaginable. The first voluntary recruits of
the Bundeswehr received their certificates in the barracks in Bonn. Only 10
years after the end of the World War II, in 1995 West Germany's army, the
Bundeswehr took shape.....Now Germany keeps peace across the world!
Indeed a landmark in the modern history of Germany and for the soldiers on
time that were an indispensable part of the Bundeswehr. There were plans that
commemorated the completion of a half century of the German federal armed
forces. However, all that glitters is not gold after all, for now came the real
picture: several painful reforms are actually planned and had started to be
implemented; the soldiers on time had scattered across the globe on mostly
uncelebrated missions. The recruitment of students was an addition to the
soldiers on time. These are the students that come from a number of South
German Universities, to participate in the annual event at the army base,
experience, what may seem initially to them as the 'thrill' of shooting military
standard automatic weapons.

Indeed a challenging moment to assume the self as soldiers on time ( in

german Soldaten auf Zeit ), in the morning dew, awaiting their turn, to be a
part of an adventure making it a lifetime experience. It enabled them to get a
feel of what it would be like to be in the shoes of an army man.” This
surprisingly true narration was part of the diary of this soldier who wrote on to
say that “ women had sniper's eyes..which was evident from the records, once
collected, the targets showed that the women had aimed at the bull's eye more
precisely.” The rest of the details were also stressing on the aspect of what he
referred to as “a-blessing-to-my-family, even after my services are no longer
availed in case of any event of my death, the army makes sure that the
dependents will largely benefit from the compensation ( in german
Abfindung ), the amount of compensation, the payment that the dependents
receive will always depend on our rank in the Army.”

Hey guys make way for the gals!!

Yeah! The one line on the tip of every woman Time Soldier's tongue, as we
proudly marched to the barracks that were assigned to us. It was the day that
gave us a feeling of being on Cloud ten, if I may say so..who would not feel so?
Getting that much-awaited opportunity-of-a-lifetime, surely could not stop us
from marching with our nose-in-the-air. Before we began unpacking, I silently
made a prayer to the Almighty for all that He had bestowed on me, a Dream-
come-true!!, the other prayer was an apologetic one as I had left my mamma
weeping and frustrated as she was dead against a female joining the BFD
Bundeswehr. She felt that efforts were as she tried her level best to deviate my
mind by pouring in futile hours on the various missions of the Time Soldier ( in
german Zeitsoldat )as a part of the BFD Bundeswehr.

Right since my college days where I was being trained by the Air Force
personnel, she would crib about women-having-better-things-to-do-in-life!!
Being a sports' freak all my student life, I had this yearning to join the forces;
what fascinated me the most was the smart uniforms of the BFD Bundeswehr,
the Federal Defence Forces of Germany. Created on 11.12.1995; since
04.01.1956, it got its official name.

It was but natural that mamma's efforts were in-vain..As I continued with the
admission courses to the Vocational Training Service of the Bundeswehr, the
application was checked thoroughly as they very systematically make a plan of
your services, tailored to your individual circumstances. This surely made
perfect sense, so once we completed the training, only the in-charges would
know better where would our services as a Time Soldier would come in handy.
After all they are engaged in a number of missions that include the fight
against terrorism, protection of the nation, rescue and evacuation, help
extended in case of disasters and catastrophes. Women have continually
serves in the medical service since 1975. It was from 1993 that they were
allowed to serve as enlisted personnel as well as non-commissioned officers in
the medical service as the army bands. In 2000, a law suit was passed by the
court that issued the orders enabling the women to take up the service of more
roles than what were previously permitted. Well, the way was paved smoothly
for us by the time we joined as a Time Soldier with the BFD Bundeswehr.
Women have managed to add a jewel-in-the-crown by rising to the rank of
General in the Armed Forces of Germany. Keep it up Gals!!

Contact

http://www.dienstzeitende.de/

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