[dcsommer]

You're right that it is not necessarily efficient from a military effectiveness perspective. I see it as also an educational tool/investment. As other comments have pointed out, this helps the populace internalize their responsibities in war (affecting voting), might help instill social cohesion, and yes also provides a baseline military competency in the populace in the worst case scenario (total war).

[crote]

How is it an "educational tool/investment" when you are removing 18-year-olds from their education or job for several months? And "instill social cohesion" sounds a lot like "brainwashing" to me.

Those arguments don't have anything to do with conscription. You could just as well achieve the same with mandatory education, or mandatory pick-trash-up-in-the-forests.

[NovemberWhiskey]

>removing 18-year-olds from their education or job for several months?

They're getting education in a different set of skills, and additional life experiences; some of which may actually be transferrable outside the military context.

I don't see the same objection to students deciding to take a gap-year to backpack around Southeast Asia.

[dcsommer]

I don't claim it's the only way to promote social cohesion. A year of mandatory trash pickup would probably do that too. I don't understand the comment about brainwashing. Any form of public education, including mandatory trash pickup, can have that word thrown around.

[akudha]

I don’t like compulsory military service. That said, with the rise of obesity and other health problems, this might make a small difference in getting people (men?) take their health a bit more seriously, once they leave the service.

I am just guessing of course