"Because You're a Migrant, They Treat You Really Tough." Findings of a Qualitative Study on Young Migrant's Perception of the Armed Forces in Germany

In 2011 compulsory military service was suspended in Germany. In view of profound demographic changes and ethnic pluralisation of the German society, migrants now pose an important target group for recruitment. The question whether recruitment of personnel with migration background is successful not least depends upon migrants’ perceptions of the armed forces, which have a long institutional history of ethnic homogeneity and exclusion of “others”. In order to identify psychosocial factors and dynamics that influence these perceptions we conducted an exploratory qualitative study, using four semi-structured group discussions with young people with different migrations backgrounds in three different German cities. The composition of the group of interviewers allowed for evaluating effects of gender, migration background and military status in addressing recruitment issues to migrants. Our analysis calls attention to three findings: 1. The participants resisted fixed national and ethnic identity ascriptions. Multiple accounts of situational identifications demonstrated their ability to strategically play with identity constructions in different social contexts. 2. The perception of the German armed forces was essentially framed by personal or family experiences with the military or police in the country of origin. Problematic experiences with armed forces in authoritarian countries e.g. negatively influenced the image of the German armed forces as well. 3. The interviewers played a subtle role in producing an environment of interest/disinterest for the armed forces in the group discussions. In unintentionally activating his role as a migrant military member, one of the interviewers was repeatedly addressed as a peer expert for a military career. Hence, with regard to recruitment strategies the study hints at the importance of 1. developing an institutional sensitivity for post-national identities of a younger generation of migrants, 2. considering different migration contexts in addressing military issues, and 3. integrating migrant servicemen as positive role models for their respective communities.