The military screening (Musterung) during school years mainly concerns pupils born in 2008 or later who are close to the Abitur or another school-leaving qualification. They ask when they must attend, whether an appointment can fall into the exam period, and what they can do about it. This guide separates what is fixed by law from the points on which the official sources give no date.
Short answer: According to the Bundeswehr (page as of 10 March 2026), the duty to attend screening applies to men liable for military service from the 2008 birth cohort onwards. Screening can take place from six months before your 18th birthday (Section 16 WPflG). Neither the Bundeswehr nor the federal government names a fixed date in the school year. The procedure usually takes one day. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- The duty to attend screening starts with the 2008 birth cohort. Women take part voluntarily.
- The Military Service Act (WPflG) allows screening from six months before the 18th birthday, that is, while you are still at school.
- A timing that follows school holidays or exams is not mentioned in the sources.
- According to an answer by the federal government, only the 2008 cohort is to be called for screening from mid-2027.
- If you do not want to interrupt school, you can file a reasoned application for deferment under Section 12(4) WPflG. The authority decides case by case.
Who is screened during school years?
According to the Bundeswehr, the duty applies to men liable for service from the 2008 birth cohort. Earlier cohorts are currently not planned. For pupils this means: if you are male and turn 18 in 2026 or later, you belong to the group concerned. This covers the typical Abitur cohorts, although the sources do not name the Abitur itself as a trigger.
| Birth year | Turns 18 in | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2026 | Duty to attend screening from this cohort (Bundeswehr, as of 10 March 2026) |
| 2009 | 2027 | Covered by the duty; legally possible from six months before the 18th birthday |
| 2010 | 2028 | Covered by the duty; the sources name no invitation date |
The table only works out the year of the 18th birthday. It does not say when the Bundeswehr actually calls a cohort. On that, the federal government’s answer (Bundestag document 21/6256) states that only the 2008 cohort is to be called for screening from mid-2027. The background is explained in Screening from the 2008 cohort.
From when can screening take place?
The Military Service Act allows screening earlier than the 18th birthday: men can be screened from six months before they turn 18 (Section 16 WPflG). An example (assumption): you turn 18 on 15 March 2027. Screening is then legally possible from 15 September 2026, in the middle of the school year. Whether the Bundeswehr invites you at that earliest point is not stated in the law.
Between what is legally possible and the actual appointment lies the practice of the Bundeswehr. Its screening page names no timing that takes school periods into account. Plan for the possibility that the invitation arrives during an exam period, and read it in full straight away.
How does screening work?
The Bundeswehr describes a procedure that is usually completed within one day. It consists of a medical assessment, including hearing, eyesight, blood pressure, fitness and back and joints, a test (CAT) with a personal interview, the allocation step and a security check after allocation. You receive the result and advice on the day. Anyone who wants to refuse military service is still screened, because the application does not exempt from screening. Details are in Screening 2026: procedure, duration and what to bring.
Can I postpone screening because of school or Abitur?
The law has no general exception for pupils. It has deferment on application: under Section 12(4) WPflG, deferment should be granted if being called up would mean a particular hardship. The express standard case named there is a university degree once you have reached the third semester when service begins. Whether ongoing school attendance or an exam period counts as a particular hardship is decided by the authority in each case. A reasoned application with a school certificate and exam dates is the route the law provides.
Deferment postpones being called up and does not remove the duty. How the application is built and which limits apply is described in Deferring military service because of studies. It deals with university study, but the structure of the application is the same.
What if the appointment falls in the exam period?
- Read the invitation in full and note the date, place and the office named for questions.
- Collect evidence: a school certificate on exam dates and, if relevant, medical certificates.
- Write to the office named in the invitation in good time and ask for a different date. State reasons and attach evidence.
- Do not simply fail to appear. The consequences are covered in Missed screening: what happens if you do not appear.
- Keep copies of all correspondence.
Whether a date is moved is for the authority to decide. A right to it cannot be derived from the sources, so an early written request matters. The time between invitation and appointment is often shorter than it seems.
What comes after screening?
After the procedure a notice is issued. You can lodge an objection against the screening notice within two weeks of delivery (Section 33(1) WPflG). The objection has suspensive effect. The screening notice is not yet a call-up. According to the federal government, the new military service remains voluntary (page as of 5 December 2025). More in Received a screening notice: what to do now.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to attend screening as a pupil?
Yes, if you are male and belong to the group liable from the 2008 birth cohort. School attendance does not change that. Deferment is an application, not an automatic exception.
Can I be screened before my 18th birthday?
Yes. Section 16 WPflG allows screening from six months before the 18th birthday.
Does the duty also apply to female pupils?
No. Women take part voluntarily. The procedure for women is described in Screening for women: attending voluntarily.
Does screening mean military service is decided?
No. Screening establishes who is available. Whether someone serves is a separate step, and the service is currently voluntary.
What to do now
- Check whether your birth cohort belongs to the group liable.
- Allow for the possibility of an invitation from six months before your 18th birthday.
- Keep your school certificate and exam dates ready.
- Respond to the invitation promptly and in writing if you need a different date.
- Plan the time after school separately from screening, for example with the guide on money and insurance before university.
Related guides
- Military service and studies 2026: the overview
- Screening from the 2008 cohort
- Screening 2026: procedure and duration
- Military service 2026: the questionnaire is mandatory for men aged 18
- Abitur done: money and insurance before university (in German)
Sources: Neuer Wehrdienst: Musterung, bundeswehr.de, page as of 10 March 2026 (in German); Section 16 WPflG, gesetze-im-internet.de (in German); Section 12 WPflG, gesetze-im-internet.de (in German); Section 33 WPflG, gesetze-im-internet.de (in German); Answer of the federal government, Bundestag document 21/6256 (in German); Questions and answers on the new military service, Federal Government, 5 December 2025 (in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
