NO ONE WILL MISS THE GERMAN MILITARY:

Germany's armed forces are struggling to attract much-needed recruits, with the number of new soldiers joining the Bundeswehr falling to an all-time low last year. The shortages are an urgent challenge for the German military, which has tried to boost its strength and capabilities at a time of record-low unemployment, and against fierce competition from both the private sector and institutions such as the police. [...]

The hiring difficulties were highlighted by the revelation that 21,500 officer and non-commissioned officer positions were vacant, according to a recent official Parliament report, which is a closely followed assessment of the Bundeswehr's strengths, weaknesses and challenges. Recruitment troubles aside, the report points to another critical but increasingly familiar failing: the poor state of military equipment and weaponry.

"My report for the year 2018 finds the personnel situation of the Bundeswehr is strained and the material situation still unsatisfactory," says Hans-Peter Bartels, the commissioner and author of the report. "I would like to say that spring has come, and everything has changed. But the truth is: This is still winter."

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