Number 10 today reassured citizens that there would be no move towards a conscription model, saying that Army service will remain “voluntary”. It comes after a senior army officer criticised the British Army’s preparedness for conflict, saying “regular armies start wars, citizen armies win them”.
General Sir Patrick Sanders also mentioned that the “pre-war” generation made up most of the UK now, and that they should be trained and equipped in case of a sudden need to fight. He warned that the number of troops has reduced by 28 percent over the last 12 years. Sanders said the UK “will not be immune” and needs to “prepare”.
In a stark warning, he compared the current political climate to the one just before World War One, saying “we can’t afford the same mistake” of “failing to perceive the implications” of what might be situations further away from home. He emphasised the importance of Ukraine’s “bravery and resilience” in “buying us time for now”.
The Express.co.uk has looked into the 86 countries that have mandatory military service. The amount of time required and age groups targeted varies between countries – and some may take you by surprise.
Angola
The Southern African nation requires all men to do two whole years of service at some stage between the ages of 20 and 45.
Benin
The West African nation makes all its citizens carry out a year and a half of mandatory military service at some stage between the ages of 18 to 35.
Egypt
Egyptian men between the age of 18 and 30 are made to do between 18 months and three entire years of mandatory military service, plus must be a reserve for nine years.
Iran
Iranian men are made to do between 18 months and two years of service as soon as they turn 18.
Israel
Israeli men and women must undergo two to four years of military service when they turn 18. If they are a pilot, their time in the military can be as long as nine years.
Niger
Similarly, unmarried Niger citizens of both sexes are made to do 24 months of selective compulsory training once they turn 18.
Mali
Again, this country doesn’t discriminate between the sexes, as everyone has to do two years of selective compulsory training when they turn 18.
North Korea
The most extreme example, North Korean men are made to do ten years of mandatory military service when they turn 17 – the women count themselves lucky to do just five at the same age.
Norway
Norwegian men and women are made to do a total of 19 months between the ages of 19 and 35.
Vietnam
Vietnamese men must do between two and three years of service at some point between the ages of 18 and 27. Females are eligible too, but are not drafted.
There are a number of countries who do not discriminate based on sex when it comes to mandatory military service. Those countries are: Benin, Cape Verde, Israel, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, North Korea, Norway and Senegal.
Celebrity military call ups
A number of celebrities have faced a break in their life to fulfil their military service. Gal Gadot is one such name – the Israeli actress, who has starred in Fast & Furious, Wonder Woman and Death on the Nile, completed her two years of mandatory service as a combat fitness instructor at the age of 20.
While some countries often let their famous faces off the hook, South Korea is not one of those, with a number of celebrities going home to train. The world famous BTS pop group have been temporarily split up by the orders, with all seven of its members currently enlisted.
