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Some countries require by law that their citizens serve a term in their armed forces. This process is generally known as conscription, mandatory military service, or colloquially in the US as "the draft". Except in wartime, the United States (and many other nations) has a strictly volunteer, or professional, military force, rather than relying on conscription.
History
Conscription allowed the French Republic to form the Grande Armee, what Napoleon Bonaparte called "the nation in arms", which successfully battled European professional armies.
Conscription, particularly when the conscripts are being sent to foreign wars that do not directly affect the security of the nation, has historically been highly politically contentious in democracies. For instance, during World War I, bitter political disputes broke out in Canada (see Conscription Crisis of 1917), Australia and New Zealand over conscription. Canada also had a political dispute over conscription during World War II (see Conscription Crisis of 1944). Similarly, mass protests about conscription to fight in the Vietnam War occurred in several countries in the late 1960s.
In developed nations, the increasing emphasis on technological firepower and better-trained fighting forces, the sheer unlikelihood of a conventional military assault on most developed nations, as well as memories of the contentiousness of the Vietnam War experience, make mass conscription unlikely in the forseeable future.
Russia and China, as well as many smaller nations, retain mainly conscript armies.
Most countries only draft men, although some (e.g., Israel) also draft women. Some have considered this unfair, because they see it is against equality. During World War II women were drafted into the armed forces of the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. The United States came close to drafting women into the Nurse Corps in preparation for a planned invasion of Japan; the atomic bomb and the Japanese surrender made this unnecessary.
A conscientious objector is an individual whose personal beliefs are incompatible with military service, or sometimes with any role in the armed forces. The reasons for refusing to serve are varied. Many conscientious objectors are so for religious reasons -- notably, the Quakers are pacifist by doctrine and Jehovah's Witnesses, who, while not strictly speaking pacifists, refuse to participate in the armed services on the grounds that they believe Christians should be neutral in worldly conflicts.
Not everyone who was conscripted was willing to give up their lives figuratively (and often literally) in the service of their country. Many young people used their family's political connections to ensure that they were placed well away from any potential harm. Others used educational exemptions, or became conscientious objectors. For others, the commonest method of avoiding the draft was to cross the border into another country. People who have been "called up" for military service and who attempted to avoid it in some way, were known as "draft-dodgers". American draft-dodgers made their way to Canada or Mexico. Australian draft-dodgers had greater difficulty leaving their country due to the ocean, but "going bush" worked just as well in the short term for many of them.
Many people looked upon draft-dodgers with scorn as being "cowards", but some supported them in their efforts. Other people like Muhammad Ali have openly refused to comply to conscription and fought in court to enforce his rights.
Although women have in principle no military service, they can undertake military service voluntarily.
Military alternative service or civil service is possible In place of the compulsory military service. Its duration is 12 months and can be performed at different organizations.
Save for a few exceptions, military service is compulsory for all men between the ages of 18 and 23 years. Those who are engaged in educational or vocational training programs prior to their military assessment are allowed to postpone service until they have completed the programs and can be called upon to perform this national duty at any time thereafter.
German law provides several options for conscientious objectors to perform alternative public service instead of a weapons-based military service:
1. The main alternative is the aforementioned “substitute service” (“Ersatzdienst”) lasting for 10 months, in which the objector is required to serve in non-combatant, state-run institutions such as the Technical Aid Corps (“Technische HilfsWerk”), Fire Department or other emergency assistance and crisis management agencies. While performing this service, the objector continues to fall within the purview of the German Federal Defense Force (“Deutsche Bundeswehr”). As such, he is termed a “combat” objector, or someone who refuses to handle a weapon, but may be otherwise deployed in times of war, if necessary.
2. The foregoing makes “Ersatzdienst” unacceptable for some conscientious objectors, who are completely opposed to being associated in any way with the military, and wish to be viewed as unavailable to the “Bundeswehr” under any circumstances — even in times of war. For such cases, the law provides “civilian service” (“Zivildienst”) as an alternative. Under this arrangement, the objector may find employment with a civilian institution that renders a public service, such as a hospital, rehabilitation center or assisted living facility for the aged. This service must be performed for 12 months. Of course, this arrangement has resulted in several controversial cases, in which the objector was unable to find employment that qualified as “Zivildienst” under the statute, and preferred to accept imprisonment rather that be enrolled in the military’s “Ersatzdienst” option. Such a sentence may last for at least three years, though this maximum term is very uncommon.
3. The third alternative permitted by German law is for the objector to become a foreign “development helper” (“Entwicklungshelfer”), which means that the person will be expected to work in a technical capacity in a recognized “developing country” for a period of not less than 18 months. To qualify for this option, the objector would have had to complete formal vocational training or an educational program that grants a recognized qualification in a marketable skill making the objector an useful asset in a developing host country. The objector is responsible for personally making all of the arrangements in order to engage in this alternative service. Many objectors who chose this option, become so engrossed in the developmental needs of such countries, that they stay abroad many years longer than the legal requirement. The disproportionately high percentage of German nationals found in many international aid, conservation, medical and technical assistance organizations active in developing countries may be directly attributable to this trend.
Another provision allows the third son of a family to be completely exonerated from military service, if his older brothers participated. Of course, voluntary enrolment is always possible.
The ongoing political debate over whether the German Federal Defense Force should be converted into a purely volunteer-based, professional army raises questions about the military draft policy. Since the current process selects ever-decreasing numbers of men from each succeeding generation, conflicting views abound regarding the effect of the selection, both in terms of the overall quality of the force and the general fairness of the system.
The final decision will most likely be informed by the enhanced or even reduced roles that such a new ‘army’ would be expected to play in German society in the years to come.
See main articles Conscription Crisis of 1917 and Conscription Crisis of 1944
In Canada conscription has never taken place in peace-time. Conscription became an extremely controversial issue during both WWI and WWII, especially in the province of Quebec.
France's association with military conscription finally came to and end in 2001, with its abolishment.
When the United States began mobilising in 1940, in response to the threat from Nazi Germany, the first peacetime draft in its history was introduced. Use of the draft persisted through the early years of the Cold War. However, in the aftermath of Vietnam, it was recognised that retention of conscription would be completely impracticable.
Women draftees
Conscientious Objectors
Draft evaders
Countries with mandatory military service
A number of countries have mandatory military service:Austria
In Austria, compulsory military service applies to all male citizens from 18 to 36 years of age (with some exceptions), in which the basic military service must be done. The duration of the basic military service is eight months. This can be done in one or first six months and then with weapon exercises of several days. Until every eight months is one is done member of the Miliz. China (PRC)
The People's Republic of China has conscription for both men and women. Women who are conscripted go to the army for two months and learn to fire guns. Information updated: as of 2003 with some information not updated since 1990s, unofficial source.Finland
As of 2004, Finland has mandatory military service of at least nine months. Women could do also if they want. Civilian service of 13 months is available in lieu of military service. Men who opt for neither are sent to open prison where may work and study for a period of six months.Germany
Germany has a mandatory military service of nine months for men. Women may volunteer and are allowed to perform the same jobs as men. A conscientious objector may write a petition requesting permission to do a civilian “substitute service” (“Ersatzdienst”), which is usually accepted, whereupon he is expected to serve 10 months. Overall, however, during the past few years, the number of men being drafted has declined significantly.Greece
As of 2002, Greece (Hellenic Republic) has a mandatory military service of 18 months. However, it is developing a professional army system and it is widely expected that the mandatory military service will be abolished soon, with some ranks serving for 14 or 16 months in recent times. Greek soldiers fire with a gun during the first two months of their service. Although women are accepted in the Greek army, they are not obliged to join as men are. Soldiers have free health insurance and medical support during their army service, including hospitalization costs.Israel
Israel has mandatory military service for both men and women who hold Israeli citizenship.Lebanon
Lebanon has a mandatory military service of one year for men. Information updated: as of 2004. See Official Information from Lebanese Army.Malaysia
As of 2004, Malaysia has a mandatory national service of three months for a selected group of both men and women. 20% 18-year-olds are selected through a lottery system to join this programme. Trainees will not be trained using firearms. The first training date is Feb 16, 2004. See Official Information from Malaysia National Service Training Department.Russia
As of 2002, Russia (Russian Federation) has a mandatory two-year draft but most Russians avoid it. See Only 11 percent of Russian men enter mandatory military service.Singapore
Singapore has one of the longest mandatory military service for males, at over two years. It also has special policies for ethnic Malays, because of possible conflicts in allegiances with neighbor and rival, Malaysia.South Korea
As of 2002, South Korea has a mandatory military service of 26 months. See: [1].Sweden
As of 2002, Sweden's government asked the army to consider mandatory army service for women. Only less than a third of the Scandinavian country's eligible 19-year-olds are actually drafted each year. See Sweden considers mandatory military service for women.Switzerland
Although Switzerland has the largest standing civilian army in the world, the military service is voluntary. Conscription applies to male citizens in accordance with kind. 59 Federal Constitution the general dienstpflicht. The military service lasts in accordance with kind. 13 military law usually between the ages of 20 to 42. The requiring ones become refresher courses quantities until a rank-referred number of days to be taken into account is reached. For the crew ranks this number amounts to a maximum of 300 days. Taiwan (ROC)
As 0f 2004, The Republic of China has implemented mandatory military service for all males since 1949. Females in the outlying islands of Fujian must also serve. Beginning January 2004, the mandatory service has been shortened by two months. See Information from www.taipei.org.Historical information
Canada
France
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire introduced a law in 1873 regarding mandatory military service. The first draft took place in 1874. See: Military service in Russia Empire.Slovenia
Slovenia's Prime Minister Anton Rop abolished mandatory military service on September 9 2003. Read the Official Press Release.United Kingdom
The United Kingdom had conscription during the First World War and the Second World War. After the Second World War, it introduced National Service, which was abolished in 1960.United States of America
The United States has instituted mandatory military service at various times, usually during wars such as the American Civil War, World War II and Vietnam War. Registration for selective service (for possible future drafts) is required of all males at their 18th birthday. Registrants remain in the pool until January 1 of the year they turn 25.The Draft As Slavery
Some groups such as the Libertarians say that the draft constitutes slavery, since it is mandatory work and is therefore unconstitutional (at least in the U.S.). As this opinion has not been validated by the U.S. government, drafting will continue for the forseeable future.See also
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