About Mandatory Military Service

Military duty is performed by a person or persons in different units known as the army. Conscription, also known as the draft, refers to the forced recruiting of citizens into the military. Military participation may be voluntary or compulsory (conscription). Some countries, such as Mexico, compel people to serve in the military, which only excludes those groups (disabled, and mentally charged). Other nations that conscript men and women into the military include North Korea, Malaysia, China, Libya, Peru, and Israel. Men are conscripted for three years of combat/security service, while women are conscripted for two years of non-combat service. Countries that have mandatory military service are also dependent on citizens who choose military as they preferred career. Some nations such as most of the European and NATO states have armed forces and do not conscript their citizens into military service as they give opportunities to those interested to apply for recruitment as a way of promoting military careers. Mandatory military service faces a range of objections as some object citing the act as a violation of human right to freedom, while others object on the ground of religious beliefs, and others cite political reasons. Conscription is perceived to violate human rights hence should be done away with.

Arguments against Mandatory Military Service

Mandatory military service is a concept that has been overtaken by time. It has negative social, economic, and political impacts to the nation as a whole. Conscription brings about incompetence in the military as it brings on board unqualified and unfit personnel who are in most incidences not committed into the service, which may result in increase in casualties during war (Muhammad, p. 43). According to a research conducted by the Anxiety and Depression Association, 70 percent of the 40,000 military members who had been sent for a war in Afghanistan and Iraq suffered psychological distress as they were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD (Nelson. P. 45). Most of the personnel forced into the military suffer from psychological problems as they are unqualified and unfit for the tasks allocated to them. Mandatory military service violates the free will of people to decide whether or not to join the forces. No one has the right to say no into participating in the military training and joining the forces as it is compulsory act which is outlined in the law. In a democratic country every citizen should have the right to free will. Mandatory military service should be abolished as it denies young men and women into pursuing careers of their interest, at the peak of their learning ability (Huzeyfe and Semih, p. 38). The act delays the youths into joining higher institutions of learning as well lateness in acquiring jobs. Mandatory service is expensive and drives away country revenue. Conscripts are less committed, serve a short period, and perform poorly in the service therefore more funds are allocated for their prolonged training. More funds are also spent in training and maintaing the large armies.

Strengths of the Argument

The argument points out the negative impact of mandatory military service on rights of the citizens living in a democratic country. Democracy is defined as the sovereignty of the people, who have the free will to decide what they find right to the nation. Therefore, the argument sets out a clear ground when the democracy of the people is put on trial through mandatory military service where the will of citizens is compromised (Panu Poutvaara and Andreas Wagener, p. 61) . The argument points out the negative effect mandatory military service on the education of youths at their peak learning ages. The point set out is very strong and relevant considering that youths are the future of every country and if denied the opportunity to start on their careers during the right time, may cost the country in future. Thirdly, the argument presents a very relevant and crucial point concerning the physical well being of the citizens who are forced into the military.

The government should promote the wellbeing of every citizen and should do away with all acts that are potential threats to health of the people. Thus, on the argument presents a very strong point in advocating against mandatory military service to prevent the psychological and traumatic problems by the conscripts who return from and who struggle things that are against their will. The argument further present a strong argument concerning the competence of the military as well as the resources spent in training the large number of people. The government must recognize that what matters most in battles and wars is the skills and competence of the military as opposed to the number of militants (Johannes and Jörn, p.6). The ground set out by the argument is very clear on the potentially of mandatory military service to expose the life of citizens due to the unfitness and incompetence of the army. The country also risks going into financial resources due to the large amount of resources used.

Weaknesses of the Argument

The argument ignores the national unity promoted by mandatory military service through collaborative training and creation of shared experience of having served in the military. Mandatory military service helps citizens to appreciate the sacrifices made by those serving in the army which increases cohesive among the citizens. The argument also fails to consider the increased preparedness of the nations towards responding to threats all attributed to the active reserve of the large body of armies, which enhances national security. The argument further compromises equality of the citizens that comes along with mandatory military service, where everybody regardless of tribe, education, and status is enlisted in serving the nation during war by facing the attackers. The arguments does not consider the threat to the national security in case of abolishment of national security bearing in mind that the high proportion of the country’s population may be unfit and unwilling to join the military. Thus the country faces greater risks of terrorist attacks due to manpower shortage in the military.

Possible Solutions to Mandatory Military Service

The governments governing nations that practice mandatory military service should seek to establish a formal way of recruiting and forming defense forces, with capability and competence to defend the country, and to perform international duties which include participation in peace support missions. Nations should focus on voluntary military reserve to enhance commitment and competence of military. Volunteers are committed into the service, work hard, and serve longer in the service. The step will also save on resources used in training a large number of citizens who are unfit for the military. Another solution is to reduce the period in which non-volunteers may serve in the army to allow them time to join high institutions and explore careers of their choice.

Courses of Action

Countries practicing voluntary should collaborate with those practicing non-voluntary military service in abolishing mandatory national service. Nations with mandatory national service should begin by learning how to recruit interested citizens into the forces and later adopt appropriate policies that are in line with the practice. Citizens should also be consulted on shift from mandatory national service through public participation or through their representatives. The countries may begin abolishing mandatory military service through reduction of the period of practice by the conscripts.

Abstract

The paper discusses concepts that support abolishment of mandatory military service. The author argues against mandatory military service on social, economic, personal, and professional grounds. some of the points discussed include the negative impacts of non-voluntary military service such as causes psychological and traumatic distress to the citizens recruited especially after war, incompetence in the military, high utilization of a countries resources, and delaying youths from joining higher institutions of learning and pursuing their careers of interest during the peak age of learning. The strengths of the position include arguing out highlighting most critical areas affecting the future citizens and the country as a whole which include; the ability of youths to access higher education at an early age, efficient utilization of a country’s resources, well being of citizens, and competence of the military in enhancing national security. The weaknesses of the position point out in the paper include; failure of the consideration of national unity and cohesive that is attributed to non-voluntary military service, increased involvement of citizens in serving the nation during times of way, and potentiality of shortage of citizens required to join the military posing a threat to the national security. The proposed solution and course of action is collaboration of countries practicing voluntary and mandatory military service in abolishing the act, and in adaption of policies that support recruitment of interest citizens into the military. There is also a proposal on reduction of the period of service for the citizens enlisted in the military involuntarily.

Annotated Bibliography

Muhammad Asali. “Compulsory Military service and Future Earnings: Evidence from a Quasi-

Experiment.” IZA Discussion Paper Series, Retrieved on February 2015, pp. 1-142

The paper discusses the long-term effects of mandatory military service on the earnings of veterans. A Quasi-experience was used to derive the following findings; mandatory military service has an economic and statistical positive effect of 18% on wages on men aged between 25-34, while the effect of those below 25 years the effect is only 16%. It is also on the negative impact of mandatory military service on the economy of the country the citizens enlisted lack the necessary experience in the labor market.

Huzeyfe Torun and Semih Tumen. “The Effects of Compulsory Military Service Exemption on

Education and Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from a Natural Experiment.” Retrieved on 29th January 2015, pp. 34-73 Research and Monetary Policy Department, Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, Istiklal Cad. No:10, 06100 Ulus, Ankara, Turkey

The article highlights that mandatory military service reduces the probability of young citizens enlisted from accessing college degree. Despite the numerous benefits derived from mandatory military service which include equipping individuals with skills; it indirectly reduces ability of individual’s ability to attain high education. It also reduces the earnings of youths with high potential of pursuing high degree courses and acquiring well paying jobs.

Johannes Schult and Jörn R. Sparfeldt. “Compusorly Military Service and Personal Development.” SOEP- The German Socio-Economic Panel Study at DIN Berklin. Papers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research, Retrieved on February 2015, pp. 1-78

The study views mandatory military service as a uniformed life event that disrupts the life of young adults in relevant countries that practice the act. The results of the study indicated that those who willingly chose to join the service had a high status of well being as compared to those who forcefully enlisted into the service.

Panu Poutvaara and Andreas Wagener. “Conscription: economic costs and political allure”. The Economics of Peace and Security Journal, ISSN 1749-852X, © www.epsjournal.org.uk – Vol. 2, No. 1 (2007), pp. 12-78

The article argues against the reliance of non-totalitarian nations on mandatory military service that abolished the act and substituted it with professional armies. The article highlights the negative aspect of mandatory military service which deprives away citizens their democratic rights to decide and also the need for every country to have a competent army to safeguard the security of the citizens during war and attacks.

Nelson L. “The All-Volunteer Military: Issues and Performance”. A CBO Study. retrieved on July 2007, pp. 23-45, Pub. No. 2960

The paper supports the non-voluntary military service citing the need for a nation to be prepared in all ascpect in responding in times of war, as voluntary military has known to encounter shortage in manpower. It discusses the various proposals to reinstate the draft in United States to increased the number of the army in safeguarding national security during war.

Works Cited

Huzeyfe Torun and Semih Tumen. “The Effects of Compulsory Military Service Exemption on

Education and Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from a Natural Experiment.” Retrieved on 29th January 2015, pp. 34-73 Research and Monetary Policy Department, Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, Istiklal Cad. No:10, 06100 Ulus, Ankara, Turkey

Johannes Schult and Jörn R. Sparfeldt. “Compusorly Military Service and Personal

Development.” SOEP- The German Socio-Economic Panel Study at DIN Berklin. Papers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research, Retrieved on February 2015, pp. 1-78

Muhammad Asali. “Compulsory Military service and Future Earnings: Evidence from a Quasi-

Experiment.” IZA Discussion Paper Series, Retrieved on February 2015, pp. 1-142

Nelson L. “The All-Volunteer Military: Issues and Performance”. A CBO Study. retrieved on

July 2007, pp. 23-45, Pub. No. 2960

Panu Poutvaara and Andreas Wagener. “Conscription: economic costs and political allure”. The

Economics of Peace and Security Journal, ISSN 1749-852X, © www.epsjournal.org.uk – Vol. 2, No. 1 (2007), pp. 12-78