Okay, here's the thing. The 'have you served' thread made me think that most of the escapists can choose if they go to military service or not. In my country the situation is different, but participating in actual combat will not happen.
But I wish to hear your opinions on the following situation. Let's assume that your country has just passed an emergency drafting law (via general vote among the people) that states that every male between the ages 18-35 must receive training for a likely near-future (less than a decade) international crisis that will escalate into armed conflict if it happens. You can choose however, how you will serve. Options are:
You train and serve for 18 months in civilian institutions, factories and other non-combat places. Lasts longest, but if the crisis begins you will not be sent anywhere near the battlelines or military targets. You will stay somewhere relatively safe, never touching a weapon (unless you specifically request weapons training) and helping your country.
You refuse to follow the drafting law - You flat out state your intent to not comply. You will be convicted for 14 months of jailtime as according to the law, after which you will be released. If the crisis starts, the government and the military will not come looking for you and will leave you to survive on your own. No governmental help beyond the bare minimum required for survival will be given to you during the crisis.
You escape the country before they can drag you into prison or push you into service. However, you must leave all your friends and family and most of your posession behind and cannot return to your country until after the crisis has blown over or 20 years have passed. In addition, the country you flee to will stay neutral in the possible conflict and you know that country will not draft you against your will.
You serve in combat support operations. They train you as a medic, weapons technician, field cook etc for behind the lines work. You train for 12 months and if the crisis starts, you might see combat but it's unlikely. In this option you can serve without ever touching a weapon, if you simply talk with your commanding officer and site personal reasons against violence.
Frontline support operations. Trainging lasts 9 months. You will be trained as a medic, a driver, a cook, weapons technician etc for close-to-frontline work. You will also be trained in the basics of infantry combat. If the crisis starts, you will be on the frontlines or close to them. However, you will not be stationed near priority targets and the enemy is less likely to shoot at you than the infantrymen in front of you. Combat is a distinct possibility.
Frontline combat. Training lasts 6 months. You will be trained in infantry combat with various weapons and tactics. Training lasts the shortest time, but if the crisis starts you will be on the frontline shooting at the enemy and getting shot back at.
Long-range combat. Training lasts 9 months. You will be slightly behind the lines, with artillery, air force etc. Ground combat remains a possibility, but you will be stationed next to a priority target to enemy bombers/counter-artillery/missiles.
EDIT: Women can serve as well if they wish for it, but they cannot be drafted against their will.)
That's it folks. What option would you choose and why? Remember, this is about your personal choice, not about the morals of such a law (unless those morals greatly affect your choice). It is assumed that over 60% of the voting-age population in your country voted for the law, fully aware of the consequences and that the emergency drafting law is now legally binding.
EDIT: The times mentioned are the duration of the training given to you before the crisis. The actual crisis will last an unknown amount of time. Clarified the original text.
But I wish to hear your opinions on the following situation. Let's assume that your country has just passed an emergency drafting law (via general vote among the people) that states that every male between the ages 18-35 must receive training for a likely near-future (less than a decade) international crisis that will escalate into armed conflict if it happens. You can choose however, how you will serve. Options are:
You train and serve for 18 months in civilian institutions, factories and other non-combat places. Lasts longest, but if the crisis begins you will not be sent anywhere near the battlelines or military targets. You will stay somewhere relatively safe, never touching a weapon (unless you specifically request weapons training) and helping your country.
You refuse to follow the drafting law - You flat out state your intent to not comply. You will be convicted for 14 months of jailtime as according to the law, after which you will be released. If the crisis starts, the government and the military will not come looking for you and will leave you to survive on your own. No governmental help beyond the bare minimum required for survival will be given to you during the crisis.
You escape the country before they can drag you into prison or push you into service. However, you must leave all your friends and family and most of your posession behind and cannot return to your country until after the crisis has blown over or 20 years have passed. In addition, the country you flee to will stay neutral in the possible conflict and you know that country will not draft you against your will.
You serve in combat support operations. They train you as a medic, weapons technician, field cook etc for behind the lines work. You train for 12 months and if the crisis starts, you might see combat but it's unlikely. In this option you can serve without ever touching a weapon, if you simply talk with your commanding officer and site personal reasons against violence.
Frontline support operations. Trainging lasts 9 months. You will be trained as a medic, a driver, a cook, weapons technician etc for close-to-frontline work. You will also be trained in the basics of infantry combat. If the crisis starts, you will be on the frontlines or close to them. However, you will not be stationed near priority targets and the enemy is less likely to shoot at you than the infantrymen in front of you. Combat is a distinct possibility.
Frontline combat. Training lasts 6 months. You will be trained in infantry combat with various weapons and tactics. Training lasts the shortest time, but if the crisis starts you will be on the frontline shooting at the enemy and getting shot back at.
Long-range combat. Training lasts 9 months. You will be slightly behind the lines, with artillery, air force etc. Ground combat remains a possibility, but you will be stationed next to a priority target to enemy bombers/counter-artillery/missiles.
EDIT: Women can serve as well if they wish for it, but they cannot be drafted against their will.)
That's it folks. What option would you choose and why? Remember, this is about your personal choice, not about the morals of such a law (unless those morals greatly affect your choice). It is assumed that over 60% of the voting-age population in your country voted for the law, fully aware of the consequences and that the emergency drafting law is now legally binding.
EDIT: The times mentioned are the duration of the training given to you before the crisis. The actual crisis will last an unknown amount of time. Clarified the original text.
