The Advisory Council on Leadership Development and Civic Education was established in 1958 by the then Federal Minister of Defence Franz Josef Strauss. The Advisory Council is an independent advisory body that advises the Federal Minister of Defence in matters of leadership development and civic education through expert opinions and recommendations.
The Advisory Council on Leadership Development and Civic Education comprises public figures, particularly from the fields of politics, business, academics and education, as well as from churches, trade unions, associations and the media. This council is thus a mirror of the leading forces in German society. As a body of independent expert advisors from the armed forces’ civil environment, the Advisory Council on Leadership Development and Civic Education plays an important role in promoting dialogue with groups that help shape public opinions in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Since its establishment in 1958, the Advisory Council has advised the various Federal Ministers of Defence and has monitored the development of the armed forces in a constructive and critical manner. It has helped shaped the character of the Bundeswehr through its criticism and praise and has become an essential link between soldiers and society. The Advisory Council is therefore a living expression of the continued integration of the German armed forces into the state.
The Advisory Council on Leadership Development and Civic Education meets several times a year, deliberates and adopts recommendations, which have usually been developed in task groups, based on majority rule. It is in these task groups that the actual work of the Advisory Council is carried out. Their statements and recommendations are taken into account in planning procedures and actions taken by political and military leaders.
The Advisory Council on Leadership Development and Civic Education: an independent personal advisory body that advises the Federal Minister of Defence in matters of leadership development and civic education.
Bundeswehr/Andrea BienertThe selection of topics is determined by current developments in state and society and their impact on the armed forces. The success of the Advisory Council on Leadership Development and Civic Education’s efforts is based on the personal and professional experience of its members – particularly in the fields of leadership and education – as well as insights gained through troop visits and ongoing cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Defence.
The members and their work are characterised by personal expertise and social responsibility. Their work is not subject to any requirements or instructions. Accordingly, the Advisory Council on Leadership Development and Civic Education is not a body for enforcing the interests of individuals or groups, but rather represents commitments for the whole of society.
In addition, the Advisory Council effectively backs soldiers’ interests in all areas of society in which its members are involved. This also benefits the military personnel themselves as citizens in uniform.