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 the fuck are you talking about? I haven’t discredited anybody. I’m about to start, though: That was fucking uncalled for. Pull your fucking head out of your ass.
With the exception of that last sentence, I haven’t insulted or degraded anyone in the slightest, and I only used that degrading tone to get your attention. I don’t intend to continue that disrespectful tone past this point.
I never said the National Guard was a civil service. I never described it as a civil service. It is not at all a civil service. The National Guard is an armed service. It is Militia, not Military, and I tried to describe the difference. I hold both in high esteem. If it seems disrespectful or degrading for me to distinguish between the military and the militia, I suggest you examine your own prejudices on the subject.
When an 18-year-old Texan joins the military, they can expect to be assigned to a post somewhere on the planet, per the needs of the service. He will be garrisoned wherever the military needs him, for as long as they need him there. He might remain on the same base his entire career; he might be bounced around the planet every 12-24 months.
When an 18-year-old Texan joins the militia, they can expect to be assigned to a post somewhere in Texas, and remain assigned to that post for the duration of his career.
Yes, they can both be deployed. Yes, they will both be sent for training which may not be in state. But the guardsman will always be sent back home, while the active duty serviceman will be sent anywhere.