It would be wise to compare the workability of the process in the United States in comparison to the performance of the process in other countries. The performance of the activity in other countries will be an outstanding image of how the element may thrive in the United States. If there are challenges in other countries, there are extremely high chances that there will also be problems with the United States’ system of military conscription. In most cases, traits for all conscription systems are alike but at some points they are influenced by the kind of governance that will revolve in the country (Zürcher, 1999).Therefore, the government may influence how different people perceive the conscription in terms of its influence into their lives.
One of the countries that have been an implementer of military conscription is Israel. It is compulsory for all citizens of the country who are above 18 years to be initiated in the conscription. However, there are exceptions for non-Druze Arab citizens who live in Israel. There are other exemptions that are made on physical, psychological, or religious grounds. The service is required to last for three years among men while women are required to undertake the service for two years.
Although, the citizens of the country are impressed with the conscription, it is unfortunate that only around half of the recruits join the military for permanent services. Some of the reasons that prevent them from joining the military are based on the citizens’ religion, minority communities, voluntary withdrawal for services, low motivation as well as possession of criminal records (Watson, 2007).
The Israel Defense Service Law offers excellent regulation for conscription duties as well as exceptions. The law clearly states that it is mandatory for all citizens who are aged 18 and above to be enlisted with the conscription program. This law was founded in 1949 and was authorized to regulate the conscription process. Initially, it had been stipulated that men should take 30 months in service while women would undertake the process for 18 months (Ruschmann, 2003).
The law dictated various elements that would have been used for exemptions for the citizens. Among the exemptions that were stipulated include; medical challenges for recruits, physical and mental incapability, and military personnel requirements. Although, the law does not oblige full absorption of trainees, it ensures that most of the recruits are absorbed to the Israel military forces (Frevert, 2004).
Switzerland is the other country that the United States may look up to for comparison of the success of military conscription. The Switzerland’s militia system, professional soldiers form approximately 5% of military personnel. The remaining 95% consists of male conscripts who are citizens of the country aged between 19 and 34 years (Mannitz, 2012).It is voluntary for women who are allowed to occupy any position in the military on the basis of their choice. However, this age bracket may be extended to 50 years under circumstances where adverse experience on certain fields is required (Callaghan, 2003).
However, not all individuals aged 18 can join the military conscription following consideration for various factors. Physical, intellect and mental capabilities are among the main considerations for exemptions. The military ensures that it has hired extremely competent individuals who are fit to undertake any form of training that would equip the militias with all necessary skills that are needed for military forces (Frevert, 2004).
Although, most people join the military, the conscription is not considered an exemplary idea. One of the issues that arise from the introduction of conscription is denial for civil rights among citizens. It is agreeable that both in Israel and Switzerland citizens are not usually given platforms upon which they may make their own choices. The two governments have made it a law that all citizens aged 18 years must join the military (Callaghan, 2003). It gives no room for citizens to make choices on their take in the process.
Therefore, one of the main concerns upon application of this element in the law governing military forces in the United States is the civil rights. They determine the respect for human rights by the government. One of the rights that this service may completely ignore is the freedom of choice. People need be allowed to make their own choices when it comes to such issues. Military service involves excessive training which comes along with extensive handwork. Some people are not willing to undertake some of these extremely painful processes (Blaisure, 2012). Therefore, the government will be forcing people into things that they may not be ready to undertake.
Some of the trainings that people undergo during military trainings are not in line with the cultural activities of various groups in the country. It is at some instances where people will be forced to comply with the law while the government ignores their cultural rights which are equally essential for smooth running of the country. People have rights to uphold certain cultural values while they may also choose to ignore others. Therefore, the government needs to be considerate for voluntary membership of any conscription. This would allow the government to access the most outstanding individuals who have the willingness to serve and have the necessary capabilities to make outstanding contributions to the security of the country. Contrary, the government may invest a lot of money while individuals do not consider offering their best since they have a range of their rights being violated (Blaisure, 2012).
The other element that may be extremely critical in the introduction of military conscription in the united states is that people will start looking at themselves so much and forgetting that the country comes before any person in the country. People will always find themselves special when they are called for such special tasks. Since some of the individuals did not join the forces following the self motivation and willingness it will be extremely difficult to make these people understand that the country is significant than themselves (Paden, 2013).
It has always been a case that security officers view themselves as the most critical individuals in the society. One of the motivating factors for this view is the extensive training that these individuals undergo. They almost feel that they are above everyone in the community.
Since the government insists that people should join the military conscription process people will begin valuing themselves so much. This is because, they feel that the government cannot operate on itself and it needs the efforts of its citizens to guarantee its performance and excellence. This will give individuals ego that they are the best and the country considers them as valuable (Bowie and Robert, 1998). Therefore, people will not take the responsibility of guarding the integrity of the country as they will find it extensively difficult to deal with such a difficult situation.
After the training the trainees will become extensive cautious of the rights and they would call for everyone to respect them for who they are in the military forces of the country. Since these individuals are not trained to the fullest for them to be regarded as military forces it will be extremely difficult to deal with the situations that will arise from the cases that will result from chaos that will have been created by these trainees (Blaisure, 2012).
The main aim of the government in strengthening the military of any country is to ensure that they defend the rights and liberty of the citizens. However, the conscription may always guarantee protection of human rights and liberty. It bends this principle at the beginning where trainees are not given any chance to prove that the government regards them as mature people who should make independent and solid decisions. People need be allowed to exercise their rights by being respected at any point of their decision. In the united states, the implications of this process may be extremely heavy since under individuals who were forced into service contrary to their willingness it will be extremely difficult to attain a democratic governance as the military forces will not be ready to guard the integrity of the country as well as the rights of the citizens in the country.
Therefore, it may be concluded that military conscription would be an extremely significant idea to strengthen the security of the United States but it needs to be settled on the basis of voluntary services. The government should not put it as a compulsory call for all people who attain 18 years of age. It needs to consider various elements so that it may agree with the rights of the citizens as well as impose adequate security for the country in future.
Works Cited
Blaisure, Karen. Serving military families in the 21st century. New York: Routledge, 2012. Print.
Bowie, Norman E., and Robert L. Simon. The individual and the political order: an introduction to social and political philosophy. 3rd ed. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 1998. Print.
Callaghan, Jean. Armed forces and international security: global trends and issues. Münster: Lit ;, 2003. Print.
Frevert, Ute. A nation in barracks modern Germany, military conscription and civil society. Oxford: Berg, 2004. Print.
Mannitz, Sabine. Democratic civil-military relations: soldiering in 21st-century Europe. London: Routledge, 2012. Print.
Paden, Catherine M. Civil rights advocacy on behalf of the poor. S.l.: Univ Of Pennsylvania Pr, 2013. Print.
Ruschmann, Paul. Mandatory Military Service. New York: Infobase Pub., 2003. Print.
Watson, Cynthia Ann. U.S. military service: a reference handbook. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO, 2007. Print.
Zürcher, Erik Jan. Arming the state: military conscription in the Middle East and Central Asia, 1775-1925. London: I.B. Tauris ;, 1999. Print.
