In the summer of 2011, the German parliament suspended general conscription, which had existed since 1956. The Armed Forces Amendment Act introduced voluntary military service of six to 23 months applying equally to men and women. With the suspension of compulsory military service, civilian service, the alternative to military service for conscientious objectors, was also phased out. Instead, a federal volunteer service was introduced. The suspension of compulsory military service only applies in times of peace and the compulsory military draft can be reactivated in case of (international) tension and war.