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Germany's cabinet approved a bill to introduce voluntary military service starting in 2026. All 18-year-old men must fill out a questionnaire about their fitness and willingness to serve; women can do so voluntarily. The government aims to increase soldiers from 182,000 to 260,000 by 2030 and boost reservists to 200,000. If not enough volunteers join, compulsory service could be reintroduced with parliament approval. The move responds to security threats after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the plan includes better pay and training to attract recruits. Some politicians support compulsory service, while others want to improve army conditions first. The bill now goes to the German parliament for approval. (Updated 27 Aug 2025, 23:15 IST; source: link)