This question was inspired by a post on lemmy.zip about lowering the minimum age to purchase firearms in the US, and a lot of commeters brought up military service and training as a benchmark to normal civilians, and how if guns would be prevalent, then firearm training should be more common.
For reference, I live in the USA, where the minimum age to join the military is 18, but joining is, for the most part, optional. I also know some friends that have gone through the military, mostly for college benefits, and it has really messed them up. However, I have also met some friends from south korea, where I understand military service is mandatory before starting a more normal career. From what I’ve heard, military service was treated more as a trade school, because they were never deployed, in comparison to American troops.
I just wanted to know what the broader Lemmy community thought about mandatory military service is, especially from viewpoints outside the US.
What we have now in America is a system that is volunteer or conscript (commit a crime and you may be given the option to join the military or do prison time). This takes advantage of the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.
I am generally for the idea of mandatory service. But the actuality as I experienced military service is not something I would wish on other people. The military is kind of broken in many ways.
Suicide rates are higher than the national average.
Rapes/sexual assaults are higher than the national average.
They have a blind spot where mental healthcare is concerned.
Leadership often employs and elevates people who will actively take advantage of their position. This is often detrimental to the members who serve under them.
The military often does a horrible job of allowing injured people the time and conditions to fully heal.
The military also treats everyone as if they lack common sense and the ability to reason. As a result it does not promote the type of people who think outside the box. There’s multiple ways that military service infantalizes its members instead of treating them like adults.
There are many reasons I think it could be a good idea and a good experience for the vast majority of people. But not as it is now. The system would need an overhaul.