Introduction
Almost every country has a military of some form, but the ways a country fills its ranks vary, and has varied with time. The least compulsory method is voluntary enlistment, where citizens choose to join the military and no one forces service. The military can therefore become a career. The opposite end of the spectrum is mandatory service where countries require certain people (usually adult men but may also include women) to serve in the military for some time.
The other option is some form of conscription or draft. Countries that have a draft require able-bodied people within a certain age range to register with the government so that they would be available for service if they are needed. The draft is seen as a fair middle ground because it fills military ranks during wartime but does not require everyone to join when they turn 18.
Other nations with armed forces that belong to bigger organizations (such as the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO) do not conscript their personnel, but rather promote military careers to recruit them.
Learn for yourself about countries with mandatory military service by investigating the data in the map and charts.
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