Conscription

Conscription is a general term for involuntary labour demanded by some established authority, e.g, Old Testament commentaries use the term to describe the levies of labour used to build the Temple, but it is most often used in the specific sense of government policies that require citizens to serve in their armed forces. It is known by various names — for example, the most recent conscription program in the United States was known colloquially as "the draft". Many nations do not maintain conscription forces, instead relying on a volunteer, or professional military, although many of these countries still reserve the possibility of conscription for wartime and "crises" of supply.

Related Topics:
Involuntary labour - Old Testament - Armed forces - United States - The draft

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In the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and elsewhere the term conscription is generally used only during wartime. National Service was the term used during peace-time in the United Kingdom. In New Zealand the term Compulsory Military Training was used. In Japan during World War II, Japanese women and children were conscripted to work in factories.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Australia - Canada - National Service - New Zealand - Compulsory Military Training - World War II

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The term "conscription" refers only to the mandatory service, thus those undergoing conscription are known as "conscripts" or "selectee" in the United States (from the Selective Service System or the Selective Service Initiative announced in 2004).

Related Topics:
Selective Service System - Selective Service Initiative - 2004

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In the USA the term "enlisted" is often used to refer only to those who have volunteered for service in roles other than as commissioned officers.

Related Topics:
USA - Commissioned officers

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