Bundeswehr advertising at the Hessentag: Protests and new veterans ceremony!

Bundeswehr advertising at the Hessentag: Protests and new veterans ceremony!

in Bad Vilbel, a very special chapter is opened these days: the Hessentag, a popular festival, attracts not only the population, but also the Bundeswehr. The troop is presented with large fighter jets and helicopters to win young people. A lined tornado fight jet and the combat helicopter "Tiger" invite visitors to be amazed. But not only that: if you want, you can also try on bulletproof vests or test your skill in the march simulator with backpack and tree trunk. The Bundeswehr's career advice is also ready to answer questions and give an insight into the diverse possibilities in the troop. This reports the Tagesschau.

national appreciation for veterans

Another central point of the Hessentag is the first national veteran day, which will be celebrated in Germany on Sunday. The initiative aims to give the approximately ten million veterans in Germany, many of which live in Hesse, the appreciation that they deserve. Hessian wing sergeant Jens Ruths sees the veteran day positively and hopes that he enables long -term meeting points for active and former soldiers. Captain Jessica Korte, who will issue a portrait of himself in Berlin during the celebrations, expresses concerns that the veteran day cannot reach all social groups.

Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius emphasizes how important it is to ensure support for all soldiers and veterans, regardless of their role or status. Subsidiary officer Stephan, who reports on his experiences after a mission in Somalia, emphasizes the changed perception of veterans. After years in which there was shame, talking about his own experiences, he finds more recognition and interest in the stories of the veterans.

challenges and future prospects

The challenges remain great. Some veterans express skepticism about the measures that are discussed around the veteran day. A veteran who suffers from post -traumatic stress disorders misses specifically tailored aid measures and would have desired that the Bundeswehr and politics would have more intensively responding to the needs of affected soldiers. Lieutenant Colonel Michael Krause, head of the veteran office in Berlin, deals intensively with the support of former soldiers and emphasizes that it is about the people who have admitted to society.

Overall, the veteran day shows how much the dialogue about the role of the Bundeswehr should be promoted in society. The political and social distance to the Bundeswehr is still noticeable, especially after the suspension of conscription. Media reporting has changed, but the understanding of security policy decisions often falls by the wayside. The Bundeswehr must therefore actively approach civil society in order to make its importance and the mandate to be understandable. This topic is also taken up by the Federal Center for Political Education, which suggests discussing the role of the Bundeswehr openly and openly.

The first national veteran day is therefore a reason for the celebration and the critical argument.