Uh, something like helping in a retirement home, a hospital, social services like a soup kitchen or I don't know what else. Personally, I went with emergency medical services and had a jolly good time.Alon Doron said:"Caring professions"? What does that mean?Quaxar said:Here, if you're deemed fit to serve, we have the choice of going with it for six months or rather doing something in a caring professions for nine months instead. So I was wondering if Israel had the same system or if there was only one way.Alon Doron said:Well, not really. I'm fit for combat (the army does something called "combat profiling"). I have no real reason, as far as the army's concerned, to exchange my service, nor do I want to do so. Why escape something that's a big part of my society, anyway?Quaxar said:Well, I understand that in the US for example enlisting comes with a few goodies on the side. Then there's also the people who like weapons, seek adventure or prefer the clear working structure.
Isn't there any option for you to do substitute social work or something?
Captcha: be my friend ... that's sweet
Alon Doron said:Luca72 said:Matthew94 said:The reason I describe it as "buttered" is because I think it's the only way it would fly if it was presented in the US today. You make a good point though, that the mandatory service isn't there in Israel primarily because it's deemed "good for society", but because it's necessary for survival.Luca72 said:You're missing the big picture. What you say is a 'buttered', easy mandatory service. Here it's at least 3 years long, with long periods away from home for combat soldiers, and with a high chance you'll be called to serve again at any time after your service as a reservoir soldier.
I believe there are less dangerous and more flexible alternatives. I think it all starts with education.
I watched a documentary about a few areas in Israel where ex-military twentysomethings had basically "retired" to for a while to deal with PTSD, and how a lot of them now had strong anti-war and anti-establishment views. What was interesting though was that whenever they were asked they all said that their service was something they looked back on fondly, saying it brought them together and that they were generally proud to serve their country. I personally feel like the US military as a whole is causing more problems globally than its fixing, so I was impressed to learn that Israel seems to have a lot of good ideas about its own.
Do you think that for the US, or for every nation in every situation? Because I could very well see mandatory enlistment being important for some situations, especially back in the day when you couldn't partially substitute manpower with technology.Matthew94 said:No, to me it is tantamount to slavery.Luca72 said:I've got a question for you though - do you think having a mandatory required enlistment is a good or bad idea
Well if you enlist as an officer then they pay your way through an actually pretty good school and only expect a few years of service in return. Other than that people can just enjoy the job, they might see it as a way to get their foot in the door (military service looks good on a resume), or they may just be patriotic. Lots of reasons, pick one.Alon Doron said:I'm an Israeli pre-draft teenager.
As I expect you to know, we all *have* to serve in the army (of course with exceptions (girls usually aren't sent to the front-lines, and ultra-orthodox Jews, well... Aren't yet integrated)).
Anyway, to the discussion at hand.
A few years ago I thought of the army service as a waste of time, something that will hold me back from learning the trade I wanted, or just to have a normal life as you may call it. Then I got older (funny saying that as a 18-year-old), and I just wanted to try and make the most of it. Hell, I even trained. That doesn't mean I like what I have to do... but still, it's the way of life here.
I've always wondered why people in other countries enlist. Why would they? It isn't mandatory, nor it is directly protecting your loved ones (you aren't guarding a border 20 miles from home, just saying).
So, to the question: Why do people enlist? (where it is non-mandatory)
(I meant no offence or insult, just trying to figure out a state of mind that isn't familiar to me)
P.S. If I made any grammar or spelling mistakes, sorry. English isn't my first language...
In America its all for honor, feeling a certain need to (my case), or just because you need the money (Atm). Then there is of coarse the person who just wants to make it a career, but most don't considering they don't stay 15 or 25 years. That's what I am seeing anyways.Alon Doron said:I'm an Israeli pre-draft teenager.
As I expect you to know, we all *have* to serve in the army (of course with exceptions (girls usually aren't sent to the front-lines, and ultra-orthodox Jews, well... Aren't yet integrated)).
Anyway, to the discussion at hand.
A few years ago I thought of the army service as a waste of time, something that will hold me back from learning the trade I wanted, or just to have a normal life as you may call it. Then I got older (funny saying that as a 18-year-old), and I just wanted to try and make the most of it. Hell, I even trained. That doesn't mean I like what I have to do... but still, it's the way of life here.
I've always wondered why people in other countries enlist. Why would they? It isn't mandatory, nor it is directly protecting your loved ones (you aren't guarding a border 20 miles from home, just saying).
So, to the question: Why do people enlist? (where it is non-mandatory)
(I meant no offence or insult, just trying to figure out a state of mind that isn't familiar to me)
P.S. If I made any grammar or spelling mistakes, sorry. English isn't my first language...
An officer is commissioned, not enlisted.Sexy Devil said:Well if you enlist as an officer then they pay your way through an actually pretty good school and only expect a few years of service in return. Other than that people can just enjoy the job, they might see it as a way to get their foot in the door (military service looks good on a resume), or they may just be patriotic. Lots of reasons, pick one.