Should compulsory National Service be Re-Introduced to provide direction & stability to our youth ?

Question

In Australia we don't have National Service anymore, apart from Israel i'm not sure if anyone does, maybe Greece or Italy ? My father did his National Service but WW2 was at an end, thank God ! Our Militia or National Servicemen were all that stood between Australia and the Japanese on the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Gunea & Borneo, prior to the arrival of the US armarda and the return of the Australian Imperial Force from Northern Africa to defend their own soil. They were able to hold on and force the Japs to develope a new phrase for retreat which was "Advance to the rear" ! as there was no known word for withdraw or "retreat" in the Japanese Army. So the efforts of National Servicemen should never be overlooked especially as they were only ever trained to fight on home soil if ever needed ! O r as a back up force to the Regulars.

With all the misdirection in todays youth shouldn't they re-introduce Composory National Service to instill National Pride, commitment and a work ethic?

Answer 1

I think they certainly need some guidance in their formative years. The need for a father figure is really lacking in today's society, due no doubt to the high divorce rate, and parents shirking their responsibilities to their children and letting them run wild! The Government laws that are drafted, giving parents and police no control over juveniles is largely responsible for the crime waves citizens are experiencing today. So in hindsight, I agree with you, but I feel sorry for the poor military who would be saddled with the outcome caused by government interference in a family's efforts to instill discipline into their children! So someone has to do it, why not the armed forces? Have a good day.

Answer 2

This is a really bad idea. The problems in Australia in terms of what you describe, so far as one can say as a non-Australian, are properly traced to the defeat of the government of Sir William McMahon by Mr. E. Gough Whitlam. It was Mr. Whitlam's government that introduced the unmarried mothers' benefit, that increased the minimum wage to the point that teenagers became unemployable, that commenced the federal regulation of business activity that has becoming stifling in recent years, that introduced no fault divorce, etc., etc.
If Mr. McMahon had abolished conscription (the draft), it is almost certain that his government would have been returned. If 4 seats in a house of 125 had gone the other way, the result would have been different. President Nixon had already moved to phase out the draft when McMahon went to the polls.
Conscription creates a class of people who are extremely disaffected and upset. It is an extremely bad idea. People should pay taxes for a volunteer army.
Why the New Left has never forgiven Richard M. Nixon (Republican moderate) is that with the one decision for an all volunteer army, he held the line on the seemingly irresistible advance of the Eugene McCarthys, etc. This is not an apology for Nixon and his wrongdoing, but it explains much of the bitterness.

Answer 3

As an Israeli citizen, in a country where everyone is required to undertake some form of military or civil service after finishing high school, I can certainly attest to the merits of civic participation. Regarding army service in particular, the combination of the rigourous mental and physical demands of the job along with the indiscrimnate nature of the herarchy based on class, ethnicity, and social background (since everyone starts at the bottom, and everyone serves regardless) all serve to create a more cohesive society and national narrative, and expose citizens to other members of society they might otherwise have never come in contact with before.

The problem is the impact a civil military has on other functions of national identity and politics. Once the military experience saturates the country on all levels, it affects the political dynamic (our current Prime Minister is the first in almost 40 years without a strong military background), and may even impede the military from doing its job optimally, since public opinion may become less willing to engage in necessary security measures if the public feels that it is putting its own children on the line. In general, I feel that compulsory service is more beneficial to each citizen individually than to the entire country as a whole.

Answer 4

If only it was that easy; however, compulsory National Service will not produce the results you seek. Most of western society firmly believe that they as individuals have no obligation to support and defend the Commonwealth that has provided for their existence and safety.

Forcing to do something that they do not believe only strengthens their disbelief. No, I am afraid that we will continue on this path of unenlightened self aggrandizement until some external force does us significant damage. Of course by then it may be too late but all societies fall apart in the end and generally speaking when the concept of "with your shield or on it" falls out of favor you do not have long to wait.


ADD: Ah Roy, so glad to have my comment confirmed in the very next post. PSTD from serving in the military? Everyone? All the time? Hmmmm, sounds like a reach to me. Your proof of this assertion is ?

Answer 5

Hmmm.... do you actually know any young people? Did you think this through?

Despite what 'today tonight' and a 'current affair' say the majority of Australian youth do not need direction (and those that need stability definitely won't get it through 'national service'). Most young people already have a strong work ethic and evidence suggests they will have to work a lot damn harder than your generation to achieve the basic standard of living that your generation takes for granted (for example, home ownership).

All national service would do is traumatise our youth and lead to an increase in the incidence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Plus, who is going to actually work to keep the economy going and pay for old peoples pensions if we force working age Australians to complete 'national service' against their will?

Regarding national pride. Unfortunately, my generation seems to have an over abundance of patriotism.

In terms of defending Australian soil, we do not need national service. We hardly have the same problems as Israel who only has national service out of desperate need. The Australian Army is an elite army and I am sure they want to keep it that way. Bringing in rif-raf would erode the quality of our defence forces.

I shudder when I hear the phrase "todays youth" knowing that what follows is likely to be full of ignorant generalisations.

Answer 6

No it shouldn't. National Service is utterly out of touch and solves nothing. The problems with the youth need addressing properly, putting them all in the Army isn't the answer and isn't fair. The "problems" with the youth in this country are completly blown out of proportion. Your always going to, and always have had a certain amount of these issues. Why should the youth respect people? Questioning authority is a vital part of growing up.

Answer 7

A public discussion on the value of individual liberty and the personal consequences attached to that is a better starting point. Unfortunately, too often those that start there are more interested in pushing their own opinions off on others. Free markets and free society create the biggest gains in life. Let people live that way and they can create their opinions for themselves. To hell with culture and class.

Answer 8

I'm a soldier. I joined the Army of my own free will. I will defend everyone's freedom to choose whether or not to defend this great nation of ours. It is, and should always be, completely up to the individual to choose whether or not to join in defending our country. There are other, non-military ways, to bring national morale up. Our youth can get involved in the government to make the changes necessary to keep this country free (before it's too late). It's up to us to teach our children to respect what this nation does for he world. Handing our children over to the government for compulsory military service is one step closer to the government taking over every aspect of our lives.

Answer 9

Compulsory military, government or civil service must be required for all citizens so that there will a reserve force that can be mobilized in times of war and emergency which is needed for the survival of the country.

Answer 10

Absolutely not! I am against anything that takes away a person's right to choose their own path in life.