shouldn't conscription be obligatory?

Yes you didn't think it out.............

Look at the WW2 example, The First Special Service Force, made up of BOTH Americans and Canadians.

The American Army looked at this unit as a place to dump their bad actors, and near criminals. The Canadian Army called for "special volunteers, who have experience in living in the bush, as trappers, miners, or ranchers, with special skills like skiing or mountain climbing ".

Guess which group was the more trainable and self motivated "? Obviously, the FSSF was eventually made over, and the Americans became more professional, and the FSSF was one of the most famous WW2 infantry units in the European theatre.

Although it is a "Hollywood Movie " the underlying theme of " The Devils Brigade " was the concept of professionally trained and well disciplined soldiers, versus the jail birds that the US sent up to Helena, Montana, to the first FSSF training camp, in the mountains. Watching the Canadians march into the camp, with their own pipers and drummers, in step and with their backs straight,t was a great scene. The only part I didn't like was the casting of Cliff Robertson, as the Canadian Major.

My point is simple. It is hard enough to train people who ARE motivated, never mind those who are being forced to be there.

Oh and finally.... Randy, J, and Capital-Gentleman are all CF service guys, so their opinion does count in this matter.

JIm B

Toronto.

I'll echo Randy, with my 36+ years in the military, and still going.

Canada has NEVER sent conscripted soldiers to war. You simply can't trust people who don't actually want to be there. Well, no-one wants to be in battle, but, volunteers are prepared for it, and take the training seriously.

Drug users, and criminals are not wanted either. You have to trust each other with your very lives. You want the best of people around you, not the worst!

This is one of the reasons the Canadian military is so good. We all do it because we want to, and, while we complain enough, when the going gets tough, we kick butt. We accept that role!

As someone who has had a 33 year career in the military (and still going strong) I would totally disagree with you on this. Military service should be voluntary. I want to be working with those who want to be there and who are there of their own free will. The last thing I want to have to do is babysit someone who does not want to be in the military and who is otherwise disgruntled. We have enough discipline issues to deal with that take time and effort away from our core functions without having druggies, malcontents and various ne'er-do-well to deal with.

No. I would much rather have my country defended by people who chose to sacrifice for the greater good rather than a stoner looking to get out of a prison sentence.

No. You use volunteer service and get people that WANT to serve. If you don't want to serve in the military you will not be a good service member.

Yes, that was a very naive thought!