The German Army Reservist Association said in an article published Saturday that it would like more citizens with an immigrant background to take part in voluntary work, according to dpa. The report in news magazine Der Spiegel cited an internal report by the association's president, Roderich Kiesewetter, in which he suggested expanding the reservist voluntary service by up to 400,000 young people with a special focus on recruiting immigrants. Young immigrants between the ages of 18 and 25 should be encouraged to volunteer to work in care, social services and in the army, according to the report. The aim of the move, in addition to better provision in the facilities where the volunteers would work, would be "better integration of immigrants, migrants and approved asylum seekers." The young people should "make a contribution to the cohesion of our society" through their work, the report said. Kiesewetter, who is a centre-right member of parliament, suggested that the government should also look at possibly extending the idea to a compulsory year of service.
