Veterans Affairs committee  Yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  No, ma'am, we don't have a similar system. After he has retired, he can get up to five years--75%--of his last income. That depends on how long the education lasts, at least. All the education will be paid in full, but for sure up to only a certain amount, which cannot be something extraordinary.

Veterans Affairs committee  This is the law in Germany, because we have the conscript army. Nobody can, for example, hire a guy, send him to the reservists, and then kick him out. That is not allowed; it is regulated by law. Also, he must be taken over for at least one year. His job is secure. In the case that the firm he has worked for breaks down, we will also see that he gets an additional job to suit his qualifications.

Veterans Affairs committee  No, sir. I have to check this out, but I will come back to you with that number, and I will provide you those data, sir.

Veterans Affairs committee  Ma'am, this is correct, yes. We don't have a veterans affairs department. We have only, as I mentioned before, a department within the military service that looks after the reservists' affairs. When something happens to those soldiers...for example, if a father dies and he is a conscript and has served between two and 20 years, his wife gets a widow pension of 60% of his last income, and the orphan pension to the kids is 30%.

Veterans Affairs committee  There is no program that is comparable to the Canadian program, but let me give you some examples. An example is health insurance. I said before that the family's health costs are paid up to 80%; for the remaining 20%, I have to pay for private insurance for my family from my salary.

Veterans Affairs committee  Nightmares are helped pretty quickly. But when there are other things, the breakup of families or friendships, for example, those people go into isolation. These people need a long time and long-term care.

Veterans Affairs committee  Our percentage, we say, is about 2% to 5% per every crew coming back from the missions. We have suffered so far. I served as a commander of the German PRT in Kunduz in north Afghanistan for eight months. I brought home with me four deaf soldiers and 32 soldiers who suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's right, sir. We trained those doctors. We also have six military hospitals in Germany, and in two of those hospitals we now have a branch that deals only with those soldiers suffering from PTSD. And we have made some good progress in helping those soldiers overcome those wounds.

Veterans Affairs committee  In that case, no, the parents would not get this pension. Unless he was responsible for the parents because the parents are no longer able to fulfill their duties and stuff by themselves, no, they won't get this money. The money is lost in those cases.

Veterans Affairs committee  Family members are involved in the same program as the soldiers. Thank you very much for this remark, sir, because it's one of those things I know very well myself. I have three kids, and my wife stayed with me here and she knows about those effects too and what they mean. We are away for eight months, and what this means to the kids, especially when she has to manage all the situations by herself....

Veterans Affairs committee  No. We have a common program for all people in our society that is relatively new. We've had it for five years. This is the nursing and insurance plan that, under law, every male in Germany has to have. This insurance covers, for example, things he needs help with, such as those you've mentioned.

Veterans Affairs committee  On your first question, our constitution does not allow a woman to serve in the forces. We say this is the last male domain we have so far.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, sir. A couple of years ago, a young lady went to the federal court and fought for the right to serve in the forces. She won and was the first to serve in our forces. She opened all branches and units of the forces to women. Before that, women could only serve in the medical health service.

Veterans Affairs committee  It is a clear and definite yes. Our rate is, in the same way, as high as your rate.