Germany eyes enhanced army's family-friendliness

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen is planning to make Germany's armed forces more family-friendly by promoting part-time work and expanding child care services in army barracks, German media reported on Sunday. "My goal is to make the armed forces to be one of the most attractive employers in Germany," Von der Leyen told the national Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag. The minister said it is particularly important for her to develop a work-life harmony in the army as a way to achieve that goal. According to media reports, German soldiers often criticize the family-unfriendly conditions in the army. Complaints made to Hellmut Konigshaus, Parliamentary Commissioner for the German Armed Forces, have reached a record high in the past year. As one of the first plans, Von der Leyen, mother of seven children herself, is considering to expand child care services in army barracks and to work more closely with childminders. She also wants to make it easier for soldiers to work part-time in order to be able to take care of their children or parents. In addition, the minister said she will tackle the problem of frequent transfers as well, which has already led to "great tensions" in the families of German soldiers. As the first woman to lead the defense ministry, she is guaranteed a lot of attention, especially in dealing with the reforms of Germany's armed forces, which is regarded as a challenge, but also a huge chance for the conservative politician to make her mark.