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What we really need to become as prepared as we once was is mandatory conscription. It used to cover almost all men, today I think it covers 7-8 percent of thos
by mongol 2y ago
What we really need to become as prepared as we once was is mandatory conscription. It used to cover almost all men, today I think it covers 7-8 percent of those in the right age. Without having seen the defense from the inside, it must feel foreign and abstract. But it concerns us all and should not be something for a just a few.
- create-username 2y agoIn mandatory conscription armies, soldiers deliberately miss the shots because nobody wants to suffer from remorse
- mathgeek 2y agoWhile I am firmly of the belief that volunteer armies are preferable to conscription, I would wager the number of conscripted folks willing to shoot at someone invading their homeland is high enough for this to not matter.
- asdff 2y agoFor a modern war in europe? Seems to me you need air superiority more than you need warm bodies with three weeks rifle training. And not much more the nordics can do for that considering they are allied with the US already and would allow them to use all ports and air strips. The ukraine situation is a little different specifically because the US doesn’t want to destroy all russian air forces in a day like in desert storm and escalate things further.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- bpodgursky 2y agoNATO does not have unlimited, or even especially deep, precision munition depth. There is absolutely a need for warm bodies manning anti-tank, artillery, and now FPV drone (10-20km range), positions.
- bjelkeman-again 2y agoConscription in Sweden is 9-12 months, depending on role. In 2023 it was 6000 men and women. Much fewer than when I did my service in the 80s, about 35 000/year then. The length is similar though. The European defense in general hasn’t switched to drone based defense at the same level that Ukraine seems to have done relatively successfully.
- mongol 2y agoMy point is that you need it for mental preparedness.
- baybal2 2y ago[dead]
- Throw4884958 2y ago[flagged]
- Epa095 2y agoIt covers women in at least Sweeden and Norway, and Denmark is also moving in that direction. Makes sense, we are not fighting wars with swords and clubs anymore.
- graemep 2y agoIn most of Europe people can legally buy alcohol at 18. Even in the relatively puritanical UK a 16 year can be served alcohol with a meal in a restaurant. The age limit for drinking alcohol in private settings is MUCH lower. On you main point, physical strength is clearly still important for some roles. Women are also more vulnerable in some wars where rape is used as a weapon or war (although men are not immune). On the other hand, in general, I agree with you that women should be trained and conscripted if men are. Not being as good at all roles, does not mean they cannot be as good at some.
- Throw4884958 2y ago[flagged]
- pletnes 2y agoYou train everyone at 18, but send them to war when the war comes - when people are 25, 30, or 43.
- Yeul 2y ago18 year old boys are literally stupid enough to charge a machine gun nest.
- StefanBatory 2y agoAs long as it's equal and not sexist. Why should I have to sacrifice a year or two of my life being bullied and abused, while in my country women get to retire five years earlier?
- kelseyfrog 2y agoBiology
- StefanBatory 2y agoAnd in which case a society that accepts this is bound to open Pandora's box.
- kelseyfrog 2y agoWhat comes out of the box?
- Jensson 2y agoThat is how every society was pretty recently, how is that a Pandoras box? We know exactly what that looks like.