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Yes, but you don't have to spend your service time in the army - you can also spend it in a voluntary organisation. There are currently around 60,000 german men working in hospitals, caring for the elderly etc. in such a role.
As far as 'community service' option is concerned, I don't have a problem with such a system under those circumstances providing that it applies equally to both sexes (which it does NOT in Germany). It's just one extra 'year of education' afterall - and spending a year working with alcholics or drug abusers in some rehab centre or working with old folk (and giving back to the community) might give some people a real life education that they might not have had - but certainly needed.
In terms of military service though, I think it just plain daft. It used to have a purpose - but now its outdated. A modern army is small, fast, employs high tech weaponry and requires intensive training. The old of days of 'cannon fodder conscripts' is no longer applicable.
[ 05-20-2004, 03:27 PM: Message edited by: Skunk ]
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