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>It was called the 'National military service'. I am a male French citizen aged 65, so I know first hand. There are several differences: * It was not compuls

>It was called the 'National military service'. I am a male French citizen aged 65, so I know first hand. There are several differences: * It was not compulsory, as in most countries including US, there were actually several alternatives (appelé scientifique, etc). * Only males were the subject of "conscription". * The goal was to make most citizen ready to take arms, and from my own experience, I think it did a good job at that. * Young people from suburban areas where not specially targeted (see what said Dupont-Moretty)

msla 6y ago
> It was not compulsory, as in most countries including US, there were actually several alternatives (appelé scientifique, etc). The US last had conscription during the Vietnam War and has never had a general-purpose mandatory peacetime "National Service" equivalent. Our draft had deferments of various kinds as well, in addition to alternative service for conscientious objectors.
mytailorisrich 6y ago
It was compulsory for all males. "Appelé scientifique" was a way of doing it in a 'non-fighting capacity', so to speak. I remember when I turned 18 and I received a letter from the Ministry of Defence 'ordering'* me to report to the local barracks for an initial physical. That's how it was. After that either you tried to get out of it for medical reasons or delayed it because of University studies (at which point you could indeed apply to do it in a technical/civilian position). I was lucky that they abolished it while I was at University so there was nothing left for me to do after I graduated. I say 'lucky' but I was actually disappointed as I had planned to apply for the "cooperation" i.e. to be sent abroad for 1.5 years in a technical capacity. * I added quotes but it was really a legal order and they used to send the gendarmes knock on your door at some point if they didn't hear from you.
- JPLeRouzic 6y ago
  Thanks for sharing, Jean-Pierre
- floren 6y ago
  > I say 'lucky' but I was actually disappointed as I had planned to apply for the "cooperation" i.e. to be sent abroad for 1.5 years in a technical capacity. I've thought that implementing something along these lines in the US would be a fine idea. Everyone, male or female, going off for a couple years of either military training, domestic work (building trails, cleaning up after natural disasters), or international work (Peace Corps on steroids). As an earlier poster said, it'd mix people up across classes and geography. When you get out, you get $10k in your pocket and a plane ticket anywhere in the country. I'm way past 18 now but as the person proposing it, I'd be entirely willing to go take part :)

msla 6y ago

> It was not compulsory, as in most countries including US, there were actually several alternatives (appelé scientifique, etc). The US last had conscription during the Vietnam War and has never had a general-purpose mandatory peacetime "National Service" equivalent. Our draft had deferments of various kinds as well, in addition to alternative service for conscientious objectors.

mytailorisrich 6y ago

It was compulsory for all males. "Appelé scientifique" was a way of doing it in a 'non-fighting capacity', so to speak. I remember when I turned 18 and I received a letter from the Ministry of Defence 'ordering'* me to report to the local barracks for an initial physical. That's how it was. After that either you tried to get out of it for medical reasons or delayed it because of University studies (at which point you could indeed apply to do it in a technical/civilian position). I was lucky that they abolished it while I was at University so there was nothing left for me to do after I graduated. I say 'lucky' but I was actually disappointed as I had planned to apply for the "cooperation" i.e. to be sent abroad for 1.5 years in a technical capacity. * I added quotes but it was really a legal order and they used to send the gendarmes knock on your door at some point if they didn't hear from you.

JPLeRouzic 6y ago
Thanks for sharing, Jean-Pierre
floren 6y ago
> I say 'lucky' but I was actually disappointed as I had planned to apply for the "cooperation" i.e. to be sent abroad for 1.5 years in a technical capacity. I've thought that implementing something along these lines in the US would be a fine idea. Everyone, male or female, going off for a couple years of either military training, domestic work (building trails, cleaning up after natural disasters), or international work (Peace Corps on steroids). As an earlier poster said, it'd mix people up across classes and geography. When you get out, you get $10k in your pocket and a plane ticket anywhere in the country. I'm way past 18 now but as the person proposing it, I'd be entirely willing to go take part :)