Germany launches drive to make military attractive

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s defense minister plans to equip the country’s newly all-volunteer military with better childcare, more attractive barracks and Internet access — giving it a face-lift as it competes with business for new recruits in a humming economy.

Ursula von der Leyen, who became Germany’s first female defense minister in December and is widely considered a potential successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, on Wednesday set out plans to put 100 million euros ($136 million) over the next five years into dusting off the Bundeswehr’s starchy image.