Quote from Scataphagos:
Well, if we had "mandatory service"... most would opt for one of the civilian choices. Some, you know, WANT the military action and all that goes with it. One of my college professors served 2 years in the Peace Corps in Ethopia between his Masters and PhD.
It's a good thing to reflect that you have "done SOMETHING"... to benefit your country or humanity... benefits MANY a great deal.. hurts no one, really. Maybe you serve as an adminstrator.. maybe you pick up trash on the highway.. maybe work in a soup kitchen... considering that ALL of those help others in some way... and if all were required to do their part.. it would be beneficial..
When I was in the Boy Scouts and on our weekend camping trips, we always spent 1/2 day helping somebody or improving the environment in some way... and sometimes that included policing highway trash. Didn't hurt us. Same principles could apply on a bigger scale.