Your Thoughts On National Service

I think forced conscription is kind of a stupid idea. Not only do IO not like the prospect of forced labor, but, as demonstrated by all the wars where there was a draft, people don't perform very well in places they don't want to be. What good are the extra soldiers when they are crappy troops? It seems to me that it would make more sense to spendmore money on a few devoted individuals thanwaste money on a large number of people who won't make good use of it.

WHen it comes to the places that have conscription though, I think conscripting to a militia is a better idea since there are alot of people who would be more usefull in a civilian job than as a full time soldier, but would still be able to make use of some military training in the event of a national emergency (called to assist police after a natural disaster) or invsion.

 

Most places with conscription don't have a very long required service length.

Norway for example, only has one year of required service for their men. They also have very very few troops deployed, who have to choose to be deployed in the first place, now anyway cause Norway is at peace.

 

We've had half a year or maybe even less recently, but it's currently being changed to non obligatory conscription

 

I didn't know Poland had conscription either.

Learn something new everyday.

 

Well, we don't anymore so you weren't that off

 

Holland doesnt have national service and hasnt had it for quite a while now

 

Well, I think a lot of countries with low populations, yet strong militaries tend to do it.

 

Now I am kind of confused here. Isn't conscription where a government takes prisoners and puts them in the military? Because honestly that's not at all a bad idea for repeat offenders. That is if it gives them some form of pay check afterwords. Drafting for law abiding citizens shouldn't be done unless a nations very sovereignty is at risk.

 

No, conscription is just another word for mandatory military service, ie draft.

 

O okay. I always figured conscripts were criminals turned into soldiers. I forget whats the term they use when they do that?

 

Resocialization, idk, I'm not sure.

 

Because that I think is a good idea for repeat offenders. Drafts should only be implemented during times of large scale war.

 

It might be conscription too though.

You may be right. It isn't really something that we have in this country so.

 

I don't think its been done since WW2. Its not used very often. Suppose its a issue of whether you can trust a criminal with a high powered assault rifle.

 

No, it happens. Though rarely.

 

When was the last time a nation used criminals as a source of recruits?

 

We do.

Sometimes, a kid about 17 or so will do something, and he will be given the choice, join the military, or go to prison.

 

Well I mean when was the last time we took an inmate above the age of eighteen and sent him off to fight a war?

 

I have no idea.

Though I am sure it happens somewhere.

 

Yeah, maybe. I've always figured it stopped after the second world war because of desertion issues.