Sweden to Revive Draft for Both Men and Women

                 by David Parmer/Tokyo

Well, if you are 18 years old and Swedish, next year you may be wearing camouflage–and not as a fashion item. The government of Sweden has announced that it will re-introduce universal conscription for men and women starting on January 1, 2018.

The draft is coming back after a seven year suspension for two reasons. The first is simply a manpower shortage. The jobs in the all-volunteer force are not being filled. The second is regional worries that Russia has gotten more aggressive toward its neighbors, and will continue to do so. Analysts cite Russian actions in Crimea and Ukraine as drivers of this anxiety.

One benefit of universal conscription besides simply filling empty slots is to create a sense of patriotism among younger citizens.One good example of this is Singapore which has ethnic diversity as its core, but requires members of all communities to serve. Giving up a year of one’s life to serve one’s country doesn’t seem unfair, and may have long-term benefits for Sweden.

Sweden MOD announcement

Photo: Sweden MOD