Re:France: Thousands of protesters wrongly punished under dr...
by floren on Friday October 09, 2020 @02:31PM
(#24732898)
> I say 'lucky' but I was actually disappointed as I had planned to apply for the "cooperation" i.e. to be sent abroad for 1.5 years in a technical capacity.
I've thought that implementing something along these lines in the US would be a fine idea. Everyone, male or female, going off for a couple years of either military training, domestic work (building trails, cleaning up after natural disasters), or international work (Peace Corps on steroids). As an earlier poster said, it'd mix people up across classes and geography. When you get out, you get $10k in your pocket and a plane ticket anywhere in the country. I'm way past 18 now but as the person proposing it, I'd be entirely willing to go take part :)
Re:France: Thousands of protesters wrongly punished under dr...
by JPLeRouzic on Friday October 09, 2020 @02:16PM
(#24732762)
Thanks for sharing,
Jean-Pierre
I remember when I turned 18 and I received a letter from the Ministry of Defence 'ordering'* me to report to the local barracks for an initial physical. That's how it was. After that either you tried to get out of it for medical reasons or delayed it because of University studies (at which point you could indeed apply to do it in a technical/civilian position).
I was lucky that they abolished it while I was at University so there was nothing left for me to do after I graduated. I say 'lucky' but I was actually disappointed as I had planned to apply for the "cooperation" i.e. to be sent abroad for 1.5 years in a technical capacity.
* I added quotes but it was really a legal order and they used to send the gendarmes knock on your door at some point if they didn't hear from you.