[Jamroll]

I know you said, that those who sign up shouldn't be made to fight in wars overseas but that is a being a tad unrealistic. Fighting either to defend the homeland or to attack other nations is the ultimate function of the Armed Forces.

No, I don't think mandatory service is necessary. Especially in Western countries. We have high standards of living, we are vastly more powerful economically and militarily than the rest of the world put together. If we were weaker nations under constant threat of attack, there may be a case for it, but given our favourable, powerful circumstances, I don't think it applies now or any time in the near future.

I understand the reason you came up with the idea is to straighten out our troublemaking youth and fix up society, but maybe we could have mandatory service in some non-Armed forces related programme. Like a boot camp system for troublesome people. Or disciplinary training type programme in schools. They should make it part of the educational system.