I'm against forcing 18 year olds to use guns. Give them some alternative like civil/public service and do something good for society.

Works best for countries that have a primarily defensive military. You have a large population of resevists to draw on for an invasion, and unless there's something wack going on with your government, there usually isn't a problem of motivating draftees when your country was invaded.

Volunteer militaries tend to need propaganda to get people to join up, even in relative peacetime. That attracts a lot of people who like the idea of shooting people in other countries. Not everyone who joins up is like that, of course. Some are also in bad economic situations and have no other line of work, and some bow to family pressure. In any case, you'll have an easier time convincing them to fight people abroad.

What we have now in America is a system that is volunteer or conscript (commit a crime and you may be given the option to join the military or do prison time). This takes advantage of the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.

I am generally for the idea of mandatory service. But the actuality as I experienced military service is not something I would wish on other people. The military is kind of broken in many ways.

Suicide rates are higher than the national average.

Rapes/sexual assaults are higher than the national average.

They have a blind spot where mental healthcare is concerned.

Leadership often employs and elevates people who will actively take advantage of their position. This is often detrimental to the members who serve under them.

The military often does a horrible job of allowing injured people the time and conditions to fully heal.

The military also treats everyone as if they lack common sense and the ability to reason. As a result it does not promote the type of people who think outside the box. There's multiple ways that military service infantalizes its members instead of treating them like adults.

There are many reasons I think it could be a good idea and a good experience for the vast majority of people. But not as it is now. The system would need an overhaul.

I don't really have a solid stance on it. Case by case, country by country. But at least a country that has citizens that have gone through a little bit of service have people who are at least slightly more knowledgeable on how to defend themselves in case they need to rebel or defend themselves with a gun (so long as the people remember their training).

Here, you pay 6 months wage equivalent to go for only 21 days, or go for 6 months on the front lines and 12 months as reserve

Join the military, die for your (oil) billionairs! Its an honor!

It should only happen if we need it