In the military - documentary series
In the military - series: Recruits on the way
The Bundeswehr is one of Germany’s largest employers. Every year, people launch their careers there, entering a world that differs vastly from civilian life. Life in the barracks is strictly regulated, and training schedules are tightly packed. Anyone wishing to build a career here needs stamina and ambition—and must be prepared to serve in crisis zones during overseas deployments. Given the Bundeswehr’s size as an employer, it is hardly surprising that young people envision a future with the armed forces.
But what does that first day in the barracks actually look like? The military world is vastly different from the civilian one; everything is regulated, from making the bed to the uniform. The Bundeswehr remains a popular place to train for those wishing to realize their dream of flying. However, applicants must brace themselves for a rigorous testing phase to qualify for this top-tier pilot training. What does the application process entail? And how do pilots fare during the final testing phase before receiving their coveted license? Basic training in the Bundeswehr is the same for everyone at the start.
Over the course of three months and 450 hours of instruction, young men and women acquire fundamental military knowledge—regardless of whether they are training with the mechanized infantry, the mountain infantry, or the navy. Those aspiring to an officer’s career undergo a comprehensive evaluation at the Bundeswehr’s leadership assessment center in Cologne.
Every year, 6,500 applicants go through the full battery of tests over three days, yet only 2,500 pass. Among them, anyone wishing to become a pilot must pass extremely demanding flight-psychology tests; the bottleneck here is incredibly narrow. Leon is 20 years old and is already a qualified construction machinery operator. Seeking a job that offers variety, he has signed up for an eight-year term of service with the Bundeswehr. ZDFinfo shows his very first day at the barracks—the so-called in-processing phase.
Alin is 28 years old and enthusiastic about her training as a military police sergeant. The ambitious young woman trains relentlessly at the gym, even in her spare time, to meet the demands of the job. She holds her own in a tough, male-dominated environment, as the proportion of women in the military remains low. Her ultimate goal: to become a career soldier. Markus has already served ten years in the Bundeswehr. Now, he wants to realize his dream of flying. The former Navy Petty Officer First Class is applying for helicopter training.
But there are a few thousand others who also want to become pilots. Will he be able to prevail against such stiff competition? Lennard, meanwhile, is nearing the end of his Navy helicopter pilot training. The final hurdle is instrument flight. Before takeoff, he must create a flight plan. Once airborne, an unexpected change of course occurs, and a collision looms. Can he maneuver out of danger? Will he earn the coveted pilot's license?
Broadcasting on 25th of June 2026 at 08.10pm + on 09.July 2026 at 03.45pm on ZDFinfo + also available in ZDFMediathek Music: POPVIRUS LIbrary
In the military - series: First experiences
The Bundeswehr is one of Germany’s largest employers. Every year, around 18,000 people begin their careers in uniform. Prospective leaders face a rigorous entrance exam. The Bundeswehr offers numerous training programs and interesting degree courses, yet its strict regulations and hierarchy are not for everyone. Those who make it through all the tests and grueling years gain a recognized professional qualification. For some young people seeking career direction, the Bundeswehr offers promising prospects.
However, the decision to join the armed forces is sometimes met with a lack of understanding from those around them. Fritz, from Munich, is still unsure what to do with his life; after a long period of drifting between odd jobs, he wants something more substantial. He decides to become a mountain infantryman (*Gebirgsjäger*), but he hadn't bargained for the harsh reality of barracks life. There is a gap between the colorful promotional material and the actual experience—such as the mandatory basic training. Not everyone is cut out for the strict hierarchy.
Some also confuse a love of the outdoors with the reality of a bivouac—surviving freezing temperatures, snow, and ice in a self-built shelter. The selection process for the Bundeswehr’s coveted, top-tier pilot training is incredibly rigorous. Although the military has relaxed its entry requirements—a university entrance qualification (*Abitur*) is no longer mandatory, and the age limit has been lifted—the bottleneck remains extremely tight; only a handful of candidates make it through the entire selection process. Markus, a 37-year-old former *Obermaat* (senior petty officer), dreams of such a career.
He still has to pass the tough preliminary tests. Is the decision to lift the age limit for pilots perhaps a bit risky on the military's part? During basic training, Leon has to learn to shoot using live ammunition. An exam follows; if he fails it, his military career is over—even though he has signed up for an eight-year term of service. And Alin is training military police recruits during a traffic stop. What is the difference between the civilian police and the military police? What is it that fascinates a young woman about military police training?
Broadcasting on 25th of June 2026 at 09.00pm + on 09.July 2026 at 05.30pm on ZDFinfo + also available in ZDFMediathekMusic: POPVIRUS Library
In the military - series: Testing And Success
Every year, around 18,000 people launch their careers with the Bundeswehr. Women are a natural part of the force—though more so in civilian roles than in military ones. The Bundeswehr operates not only its own hospitals but also its own fire department. If a plane crashes, the runway emergency team must be ready to extinguish the fire within 60 seconds. To prepare for this, firefighters train at Europe’s most modern training facility. One of the highlights of basic training is firing an automatic rifle; the young recruits find themselves torn between fascination and awe.
But what is it really like when they have to fire—and hit a target—for the first time? Or perhaps, at some point, aim at actual people? What thoughts run through their minds? They may eventually be deployed abroad; here, too, many waver between a thirst for adventure and fear of the unknown. A sense of adventure is essential when heading into the mountains amidst snow and ice. It is hardly a cozy camping trip when mountain infantry troops must survive outdoors in any weather and situation. Indeed, some drop out due to the physical demands.
And they start to wonder if this is truly what they want. Justine, 20, is enthusiastic about her training as a firefighter. Now, for the first time, she must extinguish a fire on a massive A400M transport aircraft—a scenario where a wing has been torn off in a crash. She and her colleagues are training for a real-life emergency at Europe’s most advanced facility. Leon is in basic training and holding a live weapon for the first time. After classroom instruction, he heads to the shooting range, where he must pass his marksmanship test.
The tension is high. He is also preoccupied by the thought of a future deployment abroad involving the use of a weapon. Fritz wants to become a mountain infantry soldier. More than that: he dreams of becoming a specialist within the high-altitude mountain infantry units. But first, during basic training, he has to survive a night in the mountains amidst snow and ice—and then comes a middle-of-the-night alarm. Pilot Lennard is officially presented with his pilot's license; the future lies wide open for him. He gets to show his family his job—an emotional occasion. Then, there is another surprise in store.
Broadcasting on 25th of June 2026 at 09.45pm + on 09.July 2026 at 06.15pm on ZDFinfo + also available in ZDFMediathekMusic: POPVIRUS Library
In the military -series: Oath and career
Every year, around 18,000 people begin their careers with the Bundeswehr. The Bundeswehr operates not only its own hospitals but also a fire service that provides training. One of today's most critical tasks is the fight against biological weapons. Soldiers are trained in the *Fuchs* (Fox) NBC reconnaissance vehicle to detect and analyze these threats—a highly scientific undertaking. The culmination of the two-and-a-half-month basic training is the final recruit inspection. Leon and his fellow soldiers must run through all the scenarios they have learned: overcoming obstacles while carrying 30 kilograms of gear, surviving an ambush, setting up an improvised camp, conducting reconnaissance while wearing a gas mask, and transporting a casualty.
It is grueling work, and more than a few consider giving up. Fritz has been chosen to take the oath of allegiance to the flag on behalf of his comrades. With this oath, he pledges to defend democracy and freedom with his life. The 23-year-old is a term-service soldier with the *Gebirgsjäger* (mountain infantry). However, it remains to be seen whether he truly takes this vow seriously and completes his training. Justine is training to become a firefighter.
She is tasked with extinguishing a fire on a massive A400M transport aircraft; the crash has torn off one of its wings. She and her colleagues boldly rush into the flames. Meanwhile, trainee firefighter Dennis struggles with a tree he has been assigned to fell. René and his squad operate the *Fuchs* reconnaissance vehicle, tracking down invisible—yet all the more dangerous—NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical) weapons. The Bundeswehr possesses only 30 of these high-tech vehicles. In a similarly well-equipped laboratory, Julia analyzes biological weapons. Her team is in particularly high demand when it comes to dismantling terrorist laboratories.
Broadcasting on 25th of June 2026 at 10.30pm + on 09.July 2026 at 03.45pm on ZDFinfo + also available in ZDFMediathekMusic: POPVIRUS Library
