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Germany votes to bring in voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

(www.bbc.com)
126 points petermcneeley | 3 comments | 06 Dec 25 19:19 UTC | HN request time: 1.227s | source
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appreciatorBus ◴[06 Dec 25 23:48 UTC] No.46177701[source]▶
> "We don't want to spend half a year of our lives locked up in barracks, being trained in drill and obedience and learning to kill," the organisers of the protests wrote in a statement posted on social media. "War offers no prospects for the future and destroys our livelihoods."

Is the idea that it’s better for your livelihood to just start learning how speak Russian now?

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1. port11 ◴[07 Dec 25 12:30 UTC] No.46181263[source]▶
What are you suggesting? That without forced military service Russia will take over Germany? It's not impossible, but basic military service likely does little to thwart invasion by a powerful Russian army — powerful by your suggestion. This is quite an expensive program and a questionable use of taxpayer money.
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2. IAmBroom ◴[09 Dec 25 20:23 UTC] No.46210124[source]▶
Technically correct, but more importantly: the lack of trained military personnel does even less to thwart invasion.

"Likely little" >> nothing.

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3. port11 ◴[10 Dec 25 06:40 UTC] No.46214785[source]▶
Of course, but a trained military is achieved by proper incentives to have people enlist — willingly.

I would make a terrible soldier, but I attended an info session laat year about how civilians can contribute their skills to the military. Force me into service and all you'd get is resentment. Ironically I can't actually do anything for the military since I don't have citizenship here.