Should Ireland have mandatory military service?

pgj2015 · 22-07-2020 11:39AM #1

I think we should. Our soldier numbers have fallen a lot over the last decade due to poor pay mainly. so if everyone under say 25 had to do 1 year in the army at least we up our soldier numbers. It also wouldn't do any harm to instill some discipline into some of the youth of the country.

I have talked to people from countries where they had mandatory military service and some of them told me they were very wild before they took part and it changed them for the better.

dennyire · 22-07-2020 11:41AM

Yeah agreed they should.....might help a lot of young gougers

Collie D · 22-07-2020 11:41AM

pgj2015 wrote: »

I think we should. Our soldier numbers have fallen a lot over the last decade due to poor pay mainly. so if everyone under say 25 had to do 1 year in the army at least we up out soldier numbers. It also wouldn't do any harm to instill some discipline into some of the youth of the country.

I have talked to people from countries where they had mandatory military service and some of them told me they were very wild before they took part and it changed them for the better.

I'm guessing you're not under 25?

JimmyVik · 22-07-2020 11:43AM

pgj2015 wrote: »

I think we should. Our soldier numbers have fallen a lot over the last decade due to poor pay mainly. so if everyone under say 25 had to do 1 year in the army at least we up out soldier numbers. It also wouldn't do any harm to instill some discipline into some of the youth of the country.

I have talked to people from countries where they had mandatory military service and some of them told me they were very wild before they took part and it changed them for the better.

You go first.

the beer revolu · 22-07-2020 11:43AM

No.
But I would be in favour of mandatory national service - just not necessarily military service - that could be an option.
A year of organised civil service is what I'd suggest. There could be several fields, one of which could be military.
It's a good leveller as long as the rich can't buy their way out of it.
.

pgj2015 · 22-07-2020 11:43AM

Collie D wrote: »

I'm guessing you're not under 25?

im not but even if they had it for under 40 say, I wouldn't mind at all to be honest. I said under 25 because that is usually the age most countries set as far as i know, some under 23 I think.

jam_mac_jam · 22-07-2020 11:45AM

No. We have a lot more important things to pay for then people playing soldier for a few months.

Let young people enjoy themselves, they have enough to worry about without losing a year. They have to go through more years of education at a greater expense.

Most young people are not in need of this. I like idea above of national service. However can we tackle the grannies on trolleys or some mental health services first.

Sardonicat · 22-07-2020 11:45AM

We could just pay our soldiers better. Make it an attractive career option that attracts the kind of person that doesn't require 'sorting out'. Why would you want gougers in our army?

pgj2015 · 22-07-2020 11:47AM

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

No. We have a lot more important things to pay for then people playing soldier for a few months.

Let young people enjoy themselves, they have enough to worry about without losing a year. They have to go through more years of education at a greater expense.

Most young people are not in need of this.

being in the army isn't playing soldiers for a few months. a lot can happen in 1 year.

king_of_mayo · 22-07-2020 11:49AM

All citizens should be required to do 3 years service to the State. It may be in the military, hospitals or a general work group. This will help people have a better sense of civic pride and understand hard work. Also could help train people. Like imagine you sign for the general work group, and they're like ok you're gonna help with forest preservation then that's a skill you have right there for civilian life. Same with mechanics and brickies.

If you refuse, you get 10 years in prison.

B.A._Baracus · 22-07-2020 11:52AM

Collie D wrote: »

I'm guessing you're not under 25?

You asked the very question I was going to.

pgj2015 wrote: »

im not but even if they had it for under 40 say, I wouldn't mind at all to be honest. I said under 25 because that is usually the age most countries set as far as i know, some under 23 I think.

UK is early 30s. But since you answered you are over 25, op. Don't you think that's some cheek? :pac:

The army isn't about going around blowing bubbles and picking daisies. Yes the Irish army are peace keepers but it's the army. People can get seriously hurt. People can die. It's an army.

So there you are thinking how how other people should risk their health and life while, let's be honest, you scratch your arse?

rtron · 22-07-2020 11:52AM

Years ago I wouldn't have agreed to this. But now I think it's needed. It could be done instead of transition year or at leaving cert before going to college.

pgj2015 · 22-07-2020 11:53AM

king_of_mayo wrote: »

All citizens should be required to do 3 years service to the State. It may be in the military, hospitals or a general work group. This will help people have a better sense of civic pride and understand hard work. Also could help train people. Like imagine you sign for the general work group, and they're like ok you're gonna help with forest preservation then that's a skill you have right there for civilian life. Same with mechanics and brickies.

If you refuse, you get 10 years in prison.

That is a bit north korean for my liking.

Sardonicat · 22-07-2020 11:53AM

king_of_mayo wrote: »

All citizens should be required to do 3 years service to the State. It may be in the military, hospitals or a general work group. This will help people have a better sense of civic pride and understand hard work. Also could help train people. Like imagine you sign for the general work group, and they're like ok you're gonna help with forest preservation then that's a skill you have right there for civilian life. Same with mechanics and brickies.

If you refuse, you get 10 years in prison.

So, engender civic pride through 3 years slave labour on pain of ten years in jail. Yeah, that'll nurture a deep sense if patriotism and sense of national loyalty, alright.

El Tarangu · 22-07-2020 11:54AM

As far as I know, recruitment into the Defence Forces is over-subscribed, so there does not seem much point in having conscription, in that case.

I think that compulsory military service would be a great way to encourage our most successful graduates to leave the country in droves, much in the same way that military service in Greece has*

*I don't have any figures for this, but live in a country with a large Greek population; most of the young men I know (whom Greece has spent a lot of money educating to a high level) are living abroad at so that they won't have to do their military service.

lalababa · 22-07-2020 11:54AM

The only things that would work to 'sort out' the undesirables is education and zero tolerance. Afaik and with the little experience I've had is that little Johnny see's and learns from his group/older kids that there is no real immediate consequences to their behavior be it impolite/disrespectful/intimation/petty crime/vandalism. And one thing leads to another. The Gaurds don't give a sh*t (or don't have the time) (or don't care as long as it's not in the media) (don't have the tools)for the small stuff.

Del2005 · 22-07-2020 11:56AM

Sardonicat wrote: »

We could just pay our soldiers better. Make it an attractive career option that attracts the kind of person that doesn't require 'sorting out'. Why would you want gougers in our army?

Why would we want to pay people to be cannon fodder?Unless we massively invest in our military, which isn't going to happen, any invading army will wipe out our troops in no time. We are better off disbanding the army and aer corps and than turning it into a conscript army

jam_mac_jam · 22-07-2020 11:57AM

El Tarangu wrote: »

As far as I know, recruitment into the Defence Forces is over-subscribed, so there does not seem much point in having conscription, in that case.

I think that compulsory military service would be a great way to encourage our most successful graduates to leave the country in droves, much in the same way that military service in Greece has*

*I don't have any figures for this, but live in a country with a large Greek population; most of the young men I know (whom Greece has spent a lot of money educating to a high level) are living abroad at so that they won't have to do their military service.

Exactly. Everyone would just move. I know I would. Not a chance I would waste a year of my life at that age.

pgj2015 · 22-07-2020 11:58AM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

You asked the very question I was going to.

UK is early 30s. But since you answered you are over 25, op. Don't you think that's some cheek? :pac:

The army isn't about going around blowing bubbles and picking daisies. Yes the Irish army are peace keepers but it's the army. People can get seriously hurt. People can die. It's an army.

So there you are thinking how how other people should risk their health and life while, let's be honest, you scratch your arse?

They woudln't be sent abroad to lebanon or syria etc but would be used in the unlikely event we are ever invaded, that is what out army is a defence force. so the chances of any of them being hurt would be extremely low. I just happen to be over 25, that doesnt mean I cant have an opinion on something like this, who do you think makes most decisions like this in other countries? older politicians well over 25. also if Ireland was ever in a war and people were conscripted I would be first in line to join up, im being totally honest here.

king_of_mayo · 22-07-2020 11:58AM

Sardonicat wrote: »

So, engender civic pride through 3 years slave labour on pain of ten years in jail. Yeah, that'll nurture a deep sense if patriotism and sense of national loyalty, alright.

You're free to leave to go to another country. You can't have a mandatory service that people can opt out of...

And slave labour, give me a break. You'll get paid, housed and taught skills and real life networking.

jonnny68 · 22-07-2020 11:58AM

Absolutely this should happen, a large percentage of youths nowadays have no respect for anything or anyone, dragged up scumbags who think they are entitled to anything with no morals or values, a stint in the army would instil manners into them,.

Limpy · 22-07-2020 11:59AM

No

YellowBucket · 22-07-2020 11:59AM

Hmm, yeah teach the young hooligans to use guns. That’ll solve everything!

The army isn’t a national baby sitting service for angsty teenagers and it’s already badly funded. It’s the proportionally the smallest in the EU and OECD.

I think it’s insulting to the defence forces to ask them to do this.

Why don’t you take them into your workplace for a year and provide them with on the job training?!

OU812 · 22-07-2020 12:01PM

pgj2015 wrote: »

It also wouldn't do any harm to instil some discipline into some of the youth of the country.

So, let me get this straight...

You want to take the scumbags we have (a small proportion of the population, but they're there), toughen them up even more, arm them and train them how to use weapons more effectively???

Sardonicat · 22-07-2020 12:02PM

king_of_mayo wrote: »

You're free to leave to go to another country.

And that's exactly what would happen. Everyone would leave.

pgj2015 · 22-07-2020 12:03PM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

You asked the very question I was going to.

UK is early 30s. But since you answered you are over 25, op. Don't you think that's some cheek? :pac:

The army isn't about going around blowing bubbles and picking daisies. Yes the Irish army are peace keepers but it's the army. People can get seriously hurt. People can die. It's an army.

So there you are thinking how how other people should risk their health and life while, let's be honest, you scratch your arse?

The UK doesn't have mandatory military service. I know it is 33 for their army but that is a different thing.

elefant · 22-07-2020 12:03PM

king_of_mayo wrote: »

You're free to leave to go to another country. You can't have a mandatory service that people can opt out of...

And slave labour, give me a break. You'll get paid, housed and taught skills and real life networking.

And this is exactly what would happen. A huge percentage of our university graduates would leave the country.

Strumms · 22-07-2020 12:03PM

pgj2015 wrote: »

That is a bit north korean for my liking.

Yes I don’t think that in a democracy, it’s very democratic if a percentage of its population is forced for a year of their lives into a job / situation that isn’t of their liking or choosing....

king_of_mayo · 22-07-2020 12:04PM

And the general work group (non-military) could be sent abroad too to help out with foreign development. They get a chance to see the world, do good in needy countries and we get the hard respect on the international stage and recognition, and they come out of it with skills, money and the drive to further themselves.

Sardonicat · 22-07-2020 12:04PM

OU812 wrote: »

So, let me get this straight...

You want to take the scumbags we have (a small proportion of the population, but they're there), toughen them up even more, arm them and train them how to use weapons more effectively???

Throw in a knowledge of military strategy, too. What could go wrong?

MarkR · 22-07-2020 12:04PM

I think it's a great idea. Everyone should have to do something. Military would be good for discipline, but it should be spread out to roles in the community. Should be linked to some form of accreditation so that they have something tangible at the end.

Should Ireland have mandatory military service?

Should Ireland have mandatory military service? 285 votes

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