Should 18-year-olds be forced into the military?

[InsecureLivesMatter]

Yes

No

Updates

+1 y

or should it just be 18-year-old men?

[SnowedIn]

I don't think so. I served in the U. S. Navy for 22 years. I don't want to serve alongside conscripted/drafted sailors and soldiers. Unless there's a culture of it (Israel is one example) it's not going to work. Speaking for America, we are no longer -- socially and culturally -- a nation where conscription is going to work: the world wars, Korea, and Vietnam worked but the nation and it's people couldn't do that again. I want to serve alongside volunteers.

So, no, we shouldn't do that.

[NamerOfStars]

Well, take a look at how military slavery works out for Israel or South Korea. Not only does it teach people that violence is the way to solve problems, and that authority derives its power from the threat of superior force, it teaches them that the specific group their nation's government is opposed to is evil and subhuman.

If your "discipline" comes from an outside source, you don't have any. The same is emphatically not true of hatred.

[Nomina]

I want to say yes. Like, some countries have a mandatory year of service or mandatory period of service. I actually think something like that is good.

[SpringValley]

That hasn't happened in decades, but when the shit hits the fan, it will be a horse of a different color.

[inhua]

when war breaks out between the west and their enemies, it's gonna be men who will be forced to fight for their country. just look at Ukraine right now. men stay behind and women get to flee.

that being said, no. it's their body, their choice. they shouldn't be forced to put their body on the line to get stabbed, shot at or blown up so cowards can run away to safety. oh wait, that's never gonna happen when war does break out.

[Dinklex3]

No, lol.

Military isn't for everyone.

[LiamJHayden]

No one should be forced to do so. The government is supposed to be owned by the people, not vice-versa. Compulsory service makes the people the property of the government.