Army Inspector Christian Frey is urging more women to join the Bundeswehr. Speaking with the ARD main studio, he explained that he firmly believes the armed forces need the qualifications and talents of young women. He said the way the Bundeswehr is handling accusations against certain paratrooper units should demonstrate that everyone in the forces is protected and that no such allegations are tolerated.
Frey made it clear that the complaints against the paratroopers are taken very seriously. Eleven soldiers have already been dismissed, and further disciplinary and criminal proceedings are ongoing, he said.
In addition, the inspector advocated a cutback in the number of units. “A regiment today numbers about 1,800 men and women spread across eleven companies at different locations. Any organisational scientist will tell you that running eleven sub‑units is practically impossible, and we look very critically at that” he remarked.
Looking ahead to NATO personnel requirements, Frey announced further reforms. “We will reshape the army’s structures to align with NATO defence plans, and this will include the formations we call infantry-jägers, mountain infantry, parachute infantry-so they will be incorporated in the future task assessment” he added.