The Bundeswehr has announced that it will suspend promotions for non-commissioned officers starting in June 2026. This measure is set to last until the introduction of a new promotion system in 2027. The freeze comes at an inconvenient time and has caused frustration among soldiers, as criticized by Tobias Brösdorf from the Association of Soldiers of the Bundeswehr (VSB).
Inspector General Carsten Breuer justified the promotion freeze by citing court rulings that deem promotions based solely on length of service as unlawful. Evaluations by superiors must therefore play a larger role. In an Instagram post, Breuer acknowledged that promotions would be delayed: “This is not pleasant, and I don’t like it either.”
The VSB emphasized that the legal basis for this decision has long been known, yet no action was taken. Breuer explained that the new regulations aim to ensure that non-commissioned officers can still achieve their career goals in the future. “To be combat-ready, we need them,” he added.
The decision affects several thousand sergeants who are waiting for promotion to staff sergeant. In the past, this promotion was granted after 16 years of service, but courts have demanded a stronger focus on evaluations by superiors.
The “Bild” reported that Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) is aware of the sensitivity of this decision. An internal ministry document describes the situation as “neither pain-free nor noise-free” to resolve. The Bundeswehr Association warned that the promotion freeze has the “potential for a major disaster.”
