At the Musterung (military screening) the Bundeswehr determines whether you are fit for military service. Which examinations are included is described on the Bundeswehr screening page, and section 17 of the Conscription Act (Wehrpflichtgesetz, WPflG) regulates what you must undergo and what happens only with your consent. This guide puts both in context for men born 2008 or later.
In short: According to the Bundeswehr, the medical assessment covers hearing, eyesight, blood pressure, general fitness, back and joints. Added to this are an eye test, a urine test, weight, height and exertion parameters plus the computer-based CAT test. The procedure can usually be completed within one day. Bundeswehr page as of 10 March 2026, last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- Under section 17 WPflG the examination of mental and physical fitness is compulsory. A second examination by another doctor can be ordered.
- The procedure includes a medical assessment, measurements, the CAT test with an interview and placement.
- Interventions equivalent to treatment or surgery need your consent. Simple measures such as taking blood or an X-ray do not count.
- The result is recorded in writing with a fitness grade and a deployment grade, and you receive a copy.
- The Bundeswehr names no threshold values for individual findings. Do not infer them from anecdotes.
Which examinations are part of the Musterung?
The Bundeswehr names the areas of the medical assessment and the measurements and tests separately. The overview shows what it lists explicitly.
| Area | What the Bundeswehr says is checked |
|---|---|
| Medical assessment | Hearing, eyesight, blood pressure, general fitness, back and joints |
| Measurements and tests | Eye test, urine test, body weight, height and exertion parameters |
| CAT test | Computer test on self-assessment, logical thinking, reaction ability and spatial imagination, followed by a personal interview |
| Placement | Interview on suitability, skills and wishes, followed by a security check |
The sequence and duration of the day are covered in the article (in German): Musterung 2026: Ablauf, Dauer und was man mitbringen muss. This guide is about what is examined and about your rights.
What does the law say about the medical examination?
Section 17 WPflG obliges persons liable for service to undergo a thorough medical examination of mental and physical fitness before fitness is decided. A second examination by another doctor can be ordered. The examination can be dropped if the submitted information shows that service is clearly excluded. The duties also include providing information and documents on request, even before the Musterung.
The conscription authorities (Wehrersatzbehörden) carry out the Musterung. These are the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Personnel Management and the career centres (Karrierecenter) (section 14 WPflG). They prepare it on the basis of registration and the declaration of readiness, that is, the questionnaire you answered beforehand. On the questionnaire see (in German): Der Fragebogen ist Pflicht für Männer ab 18.
What may happen only with your consent?
The law separates simple measures from interventions. Under section 17 WPflG, interventions equivalent to treatment or surgery need your consent. Simple measures such as taking blood from an earlobe, fingertip or vein, and X-rays, do not count as treatment. The examination itself is compulsory; consent concerns only an intervention beyond the usual examination.
If you refuse to be medically examined, the law provides for a decision on the file. This means the decision is made on the basis of the documents available. What this can mean for you is covered in the article (in German): Musterung nicht wahrgenommen: Was bei Nichterscheinen passiert.
What about psychological tests and the CAT test?
Section 17 WPflG permits aptitude examinations, which may include scientifically grounded psychological tests. Those summoned must attend. If someone is found unfit, the data collected must be deleted immediately. The Bundeswehr describes the CAT test as a computer test recording self-assessment, logical thinking, reaction ability and spatial imagination. An interview follows. The page gives no results or scores.
What results are there?
Under section 17 WPflG the result of the Musterung is recorded in writing with a fitness grade and a deployment grade, and you receive a copy. Section 8a WPflG names the fitness grades: fit for service, temporarily not fit for service and not fit for service. For the deployment grade, the law distinguishes between fully deployable and deployable with restrictions.
| Grade | Meaning under the WPflG |
|---|---|
| Fit for service | You can perform military service according to the finding |
| Temporarily not fit for service | Service is currently not possible, the situation may change |
| Not fit for service | You are not considered for service |
| Fully deployable / with restrictions | Deployment options according to the result of the examination |
According to its page, the Bundeswehr announces the result at the end of the screening day and offers advice. The page gives no figures and no thresholds at which a finding leads to a particular grade.
What does this mean for students?
For student life, what counts is mainly the timing of the examination and its duration. The Bundeswehr says the procedure can usually be completed within one day. Plan the appointment like a full-day compulsory date and do not schedule exams for the same day. A deferral because of studies is a separate procedure described in the article (in German) Zurückstellung vom Wehrdienst wegen Studium beantragen. Studying does not postpone the duty to attend the Musterung by itself.
If you have a pre-existing condition or take medication permanently, bring the documents named in the summons (section 17(3) WPflG). What is useful beyond that, clarify in writing with the career centre that summoned you.
Frequently asked questions
Is blood taken at the Musterung?
The Bundeswehr page names a urine test but no blood test. The law clarifies that taking blood from the earlobe, fingertip or vein is a simple measure and does not require consent as a treatment would.
Can I refuse the examination?
Under section 17 WPflG the examination is compulsory. If you refuse, the decision is made on the file. For interventions equivalent to treatment or surgery your consent is needed.
What happens to my data if I am found unfit?
Under section 17 WPflG the data collected during the aptitude examination must be deleted immediately if you are found unsuitable. For questions about how your other health data is handled, the career centre that sent the summons is the right contact. You can request information under data protection law from it in writing.
Do I have to take a sports test?
According to the Bundeswehr page, the sports test applies only to the assessment for officer careers and takes place in Cologne. The page does not name it for the general Musterung.
What to do now
- Check the summons for date, place and the documents named.
- Gather medical findings and letters on chronic conditions, as far as the summons asks for them.
- Plan the whole day and avoid exams on the day of the Musterung.
- Have the result with fitness grade and deployment grade given to you in writing.
- If you have questions or doubts about the result, clarify the next steps with the career centre.
Related guides (in German)
- Wehrdienst und Studium 2026: Der Überblick
- Musterung 2026: Ablauf und Dauer
- Musterung ab Jahrgang 2008
- Musterungsbescheid erhalten
- Musterung nicht wahrgenommen
Sources: Bundeswehr: assessment and Musterung (page as of 10 March 2026), Conscription Act (WPflG), sections 8a, 14, 17, gesetze-im-internet.de, Bundeswehr: questionnaire on the new military service (page as of 19 December 2025).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
