Military service

Military service is when people work for an army or other groups. These groups include air forces and naval forces. There are two main ways people join these groups. Some people choose to join as a job. These people are called volunteers. Other people must join because of a law. This is called a draft or conscription.

Different nations have very different rules for this service.

Rules for service depend on the laws of each country. Some nations require service from almost every citizen. Israel is one example of this. Most countries that use a draft only pick men. However, a few countries like North Korea and Eritrea draft both men and women. Norway and Sweden are special because they use gender-neutral systems. In these lands, men and women serve on equal terms.

Some countries give people a different way to serve. If a person does not want to fight, they might choose civilian service. This is often called non-combatant service. This allows people to help their country in other ways. Some places offer different lengths of time for these choices. For example, one place offers nine months of civilian work. Another place offers 22 months of service that includes two months of training.

Many countries have changed their rules over many years. In 1995, Argentina stopped using the draft. They replaced it with voluntary service instead. Before that, people called the draft "la colimba." This name came from words for running, cleaning, and sweeping. In Australia, the government stopped all forms of conscription in 1972. Canada used a militia system as early as 1669. They did not use full-time conscription after the Second World War ended in 1945.

Today, the world looks very different than it did in the past. Many nations now rely on professional soldiers who choose the job. Most states in the European Union do not use a draft. They promote military careers to find new recruits. Some smaller nations do not have an army at all. These countries might only have a police force or a coast guard. They use these groups to keep their people safe and secure.