Should military training be made compulsory for all?

It has been argued by many that compulsory military training could help the young adults by keeping them out of trouble and also teach them respect for authority and discipline. In this regard, it has also been argued that in the current times of great uncertainty, a standing army could be helpful for any country which can be called in case of emergency. On the other hand, the opponents of compulsory military training argue that it could result in an unfair treatment of contentious objectors and it also costs a long and is also difficult to implement.

The points in favor of compulsory military training:
(i) In the current kinds of uncertainty, a standing army is required by the country which is ready to be called into action. The troops of many countries are already engaged in wars in different parts of the world. Compulsory military training can provide the much-needed resources for the military and the country can also protect itself at significantly less cost. Compulsory military training can also provide a large, disciplined and well-prepared army that can be used in case of national emergencies and this army is much more well-prepared to deal with emergencies as compared to the army that has been compared in the nick of time.

(ii) Compulsory military training could bind the society together. By making the people from different cultures to train together, they problems like racism and prejudice can also be dealt with effectively. At the same time, the person is undergoing the training will also have a sense of nationality and will also gain respect for nationality. In this way, nationhood will also be fostered by compulsory military training as was seen during the Second World War and can also still be seen in case of countries where compulsory military training is required at present.

(iii) Compulsory military training can teach valuable deals with the young people. Today, there are a lot of young people who feel that they do not have any direction or purpose in their lives. Compulsory military training can help these persons in acquiring a sense of identity and purpose. Military training can also be valuable skills to the young people, including social and professional skills. At the same time, compulsory military training can also help the country in dealing with social problems like helping the old people and dealing with the menace of litter on the streets. Military training can inculcate a sense of responsibility in this society which is desperately required in some cases. Therefore military training is required to provide aspirations and goals in the life of young people. Military training can also help in dealing with the young people who re-offend continually.

(iv) Military training is compulsory in many countries of the world including Israel and Korea. In these countries, a person has to undergo military training during the decade after completing high school. Due to this requirement of military training, a sense of discipline and respect for authority is taught to the young people. It also provides a feeling of self-reliance and independence to the persons who undergo military training. In this way, it can be argued that these persons become more responsible.

Points against Compulsory Military Training
(i) It is believed by many that a system of compulsory military training can also be a standing invitation for war. Moreover, there are a number of countries that will not allow conscription willingly where the public is the master and the material resources of the country are owned by the people. The reason is that there could be military uprisings if there are a large number of discontented people in a country who also trained in war.

(ii) While in the past, a large inventory was considered as an asset and the soldiers were mostly considered as cannon fodder. However the things have changed and in modern times, one has become mechanized. During the modern times, the standing armies are being reduced by the countries and they are being replaced by large air force and high-powered missiles. Therefore, during the modern times, compulsory military training appears to be outdated.

(iii) It was hoped that the desire of the man for military conquest will be cured by the horrors of war. The opponents of compulsory military training believe that in the end, a large number of lives will be lost that would have otherwise helped in changing the world. At the same time, it is also believed that compulsory military training can be detrimental for the society and at the same time it may also result in increasing racism and patriotism to the point of Nazism.

(iv) There are a number of persons who want to join the military, at the same time there are many who do not want to do so. Therefore, it is good and fine for the people who join the military but every citizen should not be forced by the government to undergo compulsory military training. There are a large number of people who do not want to join the military, and at the same time there are many who are not mentally or physically prepared for the harsh realities that are associated with military training therefore it is not a good idea to subject all the people of a country to compulsory military training.