NationStates Jolt Archive

OK here's my take on it.

In Singapore (where I was born and brought up), the government has had a policy of National Service since the 1960s.

How this works is as follows-

At the age of 17, every male citizen has to go for a medical checkup and a physical fitness test. Upon the basis of the results of this, he is then told when and where to report for basic military training (BMT).
At the age of 18, he will then be called up for BMT, the intensity of which will depend on his medical results. e.g. if a person is deemed medically incapable of hard service, he'll probably just be taught how to march and how to wear his uniform properly and then be sent off to be trained as a clerk or something of the sort.
The more fit ones, go through three to four months of BMT (based on the physical fitness results- if you're obese you get four months training). After the BMT, each soldier will be given the rank of Pruvate and assigned a vocation (infantryman, tanker, driver, storeman, medic etc.) and sent on for further training (this varies- for officers it's ten months, infantry sergeants four months, medics three months and so on).
I was sent for training as a Combat Medic. After three months training, I was given my legal documentation (Geneva Convention documents stating that I was a medic) and Red Cross armband and posted to a combat unit which in my case was Singapore's 5th Infantry Battalion.

With the 5th I trained in various places- Singapore itself, Thailand, the jungles of Brunei and the highlands of Taiwan. For those who might wonder, at battalion level and lower, the only difference between an infantryman and a medic is that the medic packs a heavier load. So I wasn't a REMF.

When 9-11 rolled around, my battalion was training in Taiwan. We were recalled to singapore and set to guard the airport. After a month of this, my Medical Officer sent me for training as a Combat Medical Specialist after completion of which I gained the rank of sergeant.

I operated in that capacity until July 2002 when I disrupted my service to go to university where I am now.

Anyway, after that long story, I'll get to my point.

What do people think about the idea of compulsory military service.

In my opinion, it's only alright to do this in small countries like switzerland or Singapore which would not otherwise be able to maintain a sufficient military deterrent. Larger countries like Britain or the US or any country which can field a credible volunteer army should not violate the rights of their citizens by implementing such policies.

I have many good memories from my military service and I think I learned a lot. But one of the saddest sights in the world is seeing a man charged for a military crime when he did not even volunteer to be in the military.

Personally I am against military service but I can see why some would be in favour, as a Brit I am glad I don't have to do it, if it was compulsory I think some form of non-military community service, for those for whom military training wouldn't be appropriate, should be offered.

As for Britain having a credible armed forces I think the government is trying to destroy this by underfunding but the professionalism of the forces is still amazing.

I knw a few people who have been drafted in other countries.
I think one was from the Phillipines, or singapore, or malaysia. Whatever.

As for Britain having a credible armed forces I think the government is trying to destroy this by underfunding but the professionalism of the forces is still amazing.

I know what you mean- man for man the British soldier is probably one of the best in the world.

And like I said- place like Britain and the US don't need conscription and it would be wrong to introduce it. They're big enough to have a decent pool of volunteers.

Places like Singapore on the other hand are way to small to field an all volunteer army and still make it a credible force.

I can't really comment on other countries as I don't understand the system and I can definitly see that in a small country (population size) it would be impractical to rely on a volunteer standing army but if it is compulsary what about pacifist etc. I suppose it is also quite unlikely that Britain will be invaded in the near future (not that I can think of any other countries that particularly are, unless you count the ones the US doesn't like!)

I agree with Anglo. In my country they've got compulsary military service for men, but usually if you really don't want to do military service and simply tell them that they usually let you go unless you have a very well trained body. But the goverment have been discussing whatever they should abolish conscription or keep it as some think that a volontary army might be better and more effective.

In my country you may also make requests on what kind of training you want to do and they try to follow this as much as possible.

I can't really comment on other countries as I don't understand the system and I can definitly see that in a small country (population size) it would be impractical to rely on a volunteer standing army but if it is compulsary what about pacifist etc.

The Singaporean government does not recognise concientious objectors. Basically their argument is that everyone has to do it and they can't make exceptions for principles- I guess it's an Asian thing i.e. the good of society over the good on the individual.

Yea, we've probably got a bit soft in the West, everything is for the individual (a trend I hate). I would argue that there are degrees and a compromise and although I am glad I haven't had to do it I wouldn't have tried to avoid it if Britain still had it. I guess this appears a little inconsistent but I know what I am getting at.

To be honest, When we had Military service in the UK, people were a lot better behaved. now look at it. I think that not only should it return, but it should be made compulsary for BOTH sexes.

Yea, we've probably got a bit soft in the West, everything is for the individual (a trend I hate). I would argue that there are degrees and a compromise and although I am glad I haven't had to do it I wouldn't have tried to avoid it if Britain still had it. I guess this appears a little inconsistent but I know what I am getting at.

I think you have to have a balance of catering to the individual and catering to society as a whole. Singapore, for example is a bit too far to one side and most western democracies are a bit too far to the other.

However, i cannot agree with this:
"When we had Military service in the UK, people were a lot better behaved. now look at it. I think that not only should it return, but it should be made compulsary for BOTH sexes."

the trouble with this is that it is morally indefensible. In a society like Singapore it is acceptable because of the interests of national security. Even then, people grumble and generally do everything in their power to avoid work- when I was a medic and later a medical sergeant I slacked and tried to cut my medics as much slack as possible.
You can't use the military as a sort of discipline school. Parents should be teaching their kids right and wrong, not the government.
If you implemented such a scheme, you'd end up with a bunch of disillusioned, resentful, trained to kill young adults after national service.
I'd ask you (The Imperial Navy) if you have ever done any form of compulsory military service?

[quote="Anglo-Scandinavia
I think you have to have a balance of catering to the individual and catering to society as a whole. Singapore, for example is a bit too far to one side and most western democracies are a bit too far to the other."
[/quote]

I couldn't agree more. I also agree parents should do more to control their children.

I think you have to have a balance of catering to the individual and catering to society as a whole. Singapore, for example is a bit too far to one side and most western democracies are a bit too far to the other.
I think that is definitely true. On the one hand, you have a totalitarian government. On the other, you have complete anarchy. I also share your viewpoint that it is the parents' role to teach discipline, not the army's/school's/government's role.

I'd ask you (The Imperial Navy) if you have ever done any form of compulsory military service?

No, (i'm only eighteen), but i'm considering joining the Army later this year. (I'm wating 'till the troops leave iraq-I may like military service, but not suicide.)

As for Britain having a credible armed forces I think the government is trying to destroy this by underfunding but the professionalism of the forces is still amazing.

I know what you mean- man for man the British soldier is probably one of the best in the world.

And like I said- place like Britain and the US don't need conscription and it would be wrong to introduce it. They're big enough to have a decent pool of volunteers.

Places like Singapore on the other hand are way to small to field an all volunteer army and still make it a credible force.


I agree Britain is strong but I would say man for man Australia is also very high up. This is mainly becuase Australia is so huge with a small population we have to be. Our spirit has also been very strong and always been courageous and in some cases stubborn in our defence just look at the Battle of Tobruk in WWII where AUstralians held this city against all odds.

No, (i'm only eighteen), but i'm considering joining the Army later this year. (I'm wating 'till the troops leave iraq-I may like military service, but not suicide.)

Cool- an intelligent decision :)

May I just ask, if you are 18 how do you know if people were better behaved back then if even my dad didn't do military service. I know it is the generally accepted view but a lot was behind closed doors we are just more open and was it really national service that made people behave better. Sorry just couldn't resist playing devil's advocate

May I just ask, if you are 18 how do you know if people were better behaved back then if even my dad didn't do military service. I know it is the generally accepted view but a lot was behind closed doors we are just more open and was it really national service that made people behave better. Sorry just couldn't resist playing devil's advocate

You learn from your friends and family. And parents. Also, It is history that people were better behaved in the past... also i am more intelligent than you believe.

I didn't question your intelligence, similarly I would ever claim to be clever(just look at my grammar), :oops: I just felt like a bit of stirring because I am imature.

Oh a congrats on the army have lots of friends who love being in OTC and are going to join the army.

Personally I am against military service but I can see why some would be in favour, as a Brit I am glad I don't have to do it, if it was compulsory I think some form of non-military community service, for those for whom military training wouldn't be appropriate, should be offered.

As for Britain having a credible armed forces I think the government is trying to destroy this by underfunding but the professionalism of the forces is still amazing.

Totally what he said.. 8)

The way I see it: Either you have a compulsory military service (national duty) for all or you have a professional army. The military service in Sweden used to be compulsory for every man, but since about 1992 the state have made cuts in the budget which meant that the army nearly went bancrupt and it couldn't afford to draft everyone anymore. When not everyone share the duty anymore, the whole idea with compulsory military service kind of goes down the toilet...

But of course. Since the fall of the big red mean machine (Soviet) the threat against Sweden has decreased enormously and there is no longer a need for training every single man. The money can be better used elsewhere.

The way I see it: Either you have a compulsory military service (national duty) for all or you have a professional army.

I agree. This cuts out the hordes of people who will pretend to be "concientious objectors" in order to get out of doing military service. It's a pity for the real concientous objectors but sometimes life is tough.

Well i think national service is a great idead and as a Brit since it was abolished britain has gone to pot.

The way I see it: Either you have a compulsory military service (national duty) for all or you have a professional army. The military service in Sweden used to be compulsory for every man, but since about 1992 the state have made cuts in the budget which meant that the army nearly went bancrupt and it couldn't afford to draft everyone anymore. When not everyone share the duty anymore, the whole idea with compulsory military service kind of goes down the toilet...

But of course. Since the fall of the big red mean machine (Soviet) the threat against Sweden has decreased enormously and there is no longer a need for training every single man. The money can be better used elsewhere.

I agree with you, Sweden don't really need compulsory military service any longer...

The British Army is as skilled and efficient as it is because those who volunteer are largely motivated by the prospect of administering extreme violence. If you start diluting it with people who would rather be doing something else, you would undermine its effectiveness.