Peace Corp or something like that. I can't remember the name of the gorup that was started during the depression that put people to work doing things like building the national parks and other type of things. These groups provided jobs, life experience outside what ever town you grew up in, and could be a good solve for today's situation.

CCC Civilian Conservation Corps

We never HAD a year of mandatory military service to bring back

I would quit my job and drop everything in my life to join a program like that. The Intercept did an episode on it over the summer and I got chills listening to it.

You can join the Peace Corps right now.

Perhaps GP lives somewhere that did. It's definitely not an uncommon thing around the world.

Just slightly older guys then I am had mandatory service. I never heard someone say anything positive about the experience. Mostly learned how to avoid effort in highly controlled environment. Many stories about bullying is various kind.

But purpose was never mentioned, they seen it more of as waste of time.