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  • neidu3@sh.itjust.worksMtoAsk Lemmy@lemmy.worldAre people here pro-conscription?
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    5 days ago

    I’m pro, but to a very limited extent and with a lot of caveats.

    Peacetime conscription is an important tool for smaller nations in that it gives a population a basic military skillset. A professional army will then have a larger recruitment pool that already knows WTF fire&maneuver teams are.

    It is also my firm belief that serving a year for something greater oneself is an important life lesson. Not in the sense of indoctrination, but most 20 year olds really should serve a purpose outside of their own life and goals.

    As for wartime conscription, that’s an entirely different thing. A conscript should never be sent abroad. And I’m undecided whether it’s OK to use them in defensive wars (A common argument is that if a nation is worth fighting for, they will volunteer. I can’t take a stance on that, as I don’t have any relevant experience).

    And it should be possible to refuse military service. So, for example, instead of serving in the army for a year, you’re assigned to civil defense that can help out during disaster relief.

    Source: My thoughts and opinions, mostly. I served one year as a conscript, learning the basics. I was offered a contract to join the standing army as I was interested at that point in my life, but I turned it down for a competing offer. I later joined our country’s equivalent of the national guard for a couple of years, before I left due to it clashing with my job a lot.