The contract for voluntary military service is not an ordinary employment contract but a service relationship under the Soldiers Act (Soldatengesetz, SG). Since 1 January 2026 a new version of section 58b SG applies. This guide explains how the commitment works, how long it lasts, what the probation period means and how the service ends.
In short: Voluntary military service rests on a written commitment to serve at least six and at most eleven months (section 58b SG). The first six months count as probation. During probation, discharge on the 15th or the last day of a month is possible (section 58h SG). Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- Commitment to at least six and at most eleven months of service, section 58b SG as in force since 1 January 2026.
- The first six months are probation. The commitment declaration must be made in writing (section 58e SG).
- The Bundeswehr invites you to report for duty and states place and time (section 58g SG).
- The law does not speak of termination by notice but of discharge (Entlassung). Section 58h SG governs how service ends.
- From twelve months of service you serve as a soldier on a fixed term, on different terms.
How does the contract come about?
The contract is usually preceded by the route through the questionnaire and the career centre (Karrierecenter). According to the Bundeswehr, the questionnaire, the invitation to a career centre and the assessment lead to placement. The law provides for counselling and aptitude checks for interested persons in the career centres (section 58d SG). Only then follows the commitment declaration. An article on the application route (in German): Wehrdienst bewerben: Voraussetzungen und Ablauf.
Legally this is military service performed voluntarily. Under section 4(3) of the Conscription Act (WPflG), military service may also be performed voluntarily, and volunteers have the legal status of soldiers serving on the basis of conscription. You become a soldier with the corresponding rights and duties, not an employee in the sense of labour law.
How long does the service last under the contract?
Section 58b SG provides for a commitment of at least six and at most eleven months of service. This matches the Bundeswehr description: minimum service in the troops is six months, voluntary military service runs up to eleven months, and from twelve months the Bundeswehr speaks of soldiers on a fixed term (page as of 19 December 2025). You set the length of your contract with your commitment. A separate look at duration (in German): Wehrdienst-Dauer.
| Feature | Voluntary military service | Soldier on a fixed term |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 6 to 11 months | from 12 months, up to 25 years of service possible for enlisted ranks |
| Probation | First six months (section 58b SG) | Own rules, see contract |
| Basic pay (Bundeswehr, as of 19 Dec 2025) | about 2,600 euros gross a month | about 2,700 euros gross a month |
| Legal basis | Section 58b SG et seq. | Soldiers Act, commitment for a fixed term |
The pay figures come from the Bundeswehr page on the new military service. For binding information on your case the contract applies. How pay is made up is explained in the article (in German): Wehrdienst-Gehalt.
What does the probation period mean?
Under section 58b SG the first six months count as probation. Section 58h(2) SG governs how it ends: during probation you can be discharged on the 15th or the last day of a month. The discharge order must be announced at least two weeks before the discharge date. This also applies where the Bundeswehr orders the discharge.
On your written application you must be discharged during probation on the 15th or the last day of a month. In the first five months the application must be made one month before the discharge date. This is the statutory way out of the contract without needing a right of termination in the labour-law sense. If your case is different, for example because of illness or family reasons, the personnel office is the right contact.
How does the service end?
Under section 58h(1) SG voluntary military service ends by discharge corresponding to section 46(1) SG, by discharge corresponding to section 75 SG or by exclusion corresponding to section 76 SG. Those provisions regulate which grounds fall under them. Section 58b SG does not provide for an extension beyond eleven months. According to the Bundeswehr, anyone who wants to serve longer becomes a soldier on a fixed term and commits from twelve months. Check the contract text for any extension options within your term.
Transitional rules apply to persons serving under the old version of section 58b SG (section 101 SG). Anyone committed before 2026 should therefore not assume the rules of this article apply.
What benefits does the Bundeswehr name besides pay?
On its page on the new military service, the Bundeswehr names meals as a benefit in kind worth about ten euros a day. There is also a driving licence subsidy of up to 3,500 euros for category B and up to 5,000 euros for a lorry licence. According to the page the subsidy applies from twelve months of service and for service starting after 1 January 2026, and the licence must be issued within one year after service ends (page as of 19 December 2025). Because these benefits depend on duration and start date, include them in your review of the contract before you commit.
What happens to studies, funding and insurance?
For students the service interrupts the course of study. The university governs leaves of absence under its own regulations. How service affects BAföG (student grants) is covered in the article (in German) Wehrdienst und BAföG, and the article Wehrdienst und Krankenversicherung covers health insurance. For family insurance, section 10(2) SGB V provides that the age limit of 25 is extended by the time of voluntary military service under section 58b SG.
Frequently asked questions
Can I terminate the contract?
The Soldiers Act knows no termination by notice, only discharge. During probation it is possible on your application on the 15th or the last day of a month, in the first five months with one month of notice (section 58h SG). After that the grounds for discharge to which section 58h refers apply.
Am I an employee as a volunteer?
No. You are a soldier with the legal status of a person performing military service (section 4(3) WPflG). This affects rights, duties and the end of service.
Must I make the commitment in writing?
Yes. Section 58e SG provides for a written commitment declaration. A separate declaration is required for a special deployment abroad.
When does service begin?
The Bundeswehr invites you to report for duty and states place and time (section 58g SG). The invitation sets the actual date.
What to do now
- Check whether a service period of six to eleven months fits with your studies and exams.
- Get advice at the career centre and ask about location, branch and start date.
- Read the contract in full before signing, especially on duration, probation and discharge.
- Check leave of absence at your university, BAföG and health insurance before service starts.
- Note the deadlines for a discharge application during probation.
Related guides (in German)
- Wehrdienst und Studium 2026: Der Überblick
- Wehrdienst-Dauer
- Wehrdienst-Gehalt
- Wehrdienst bewerben
- Wehrdienst freiwillig oder Pflicht
Sources: Section 58b Soldiers Act, gesetze-im-internet.de, Section 58h Soldiers Act, end of voluntary military service, gesetze-im-internet.de, Conscription Act, section 4(3), gesetze-im-internet.de, Bundeswehr: new military service (page as of 19 December 2025).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
