National service
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Military service Conscription by country: |
National service is a common name for mandatory or voluntary government service programs (most often focusing on military service). (Compulsory military service is more often known as conscription.) National service was common in the 20th century, and many young people spent one or more years in such programs. Compulsory military service typically requires all citizens, or all male citizens, to participate for a period of a year (more in some countries) during their youth, usually at some point between the age of 18 and their late twenties.
The term National Service is still used to describe compulsory military service programs in countries including Austria, Mexico, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Israel, Malaysia, the Republic of China (Taiwan), Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.
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[edit] History of national service in the United States
[edit] National service in the United Kingdom
Conscription in the United Kingdom was first introduced in 1916, and occurred from 1916 to 1918 and from 1939 to 1960. After 1948 it became known as National Service - during World Wars One and Two it was usually known as War Service (though the act re-introducing it in 1939 was entitled the National Service (Armed Forces) Act).
[edit] Singapore
National Service was introduced in Singapore in 1967 to meet the critical need of defending Singapore following independence in 1965 and the anticipated withdrawal of British forces. A conscript system was implemented drawing on elements of the Swiss and Israeli conscription systems. Besides the military, national servicemen also serve in the police and civil defense forces.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
- Alternative service
- National Youth Service
- Program Khidmat Negara - The official Malay name for the National Service program in Malaysia.
- Sherut Leumi - National Service in Israel
