<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Conscription, sometimes the draft, is the compulsory enlistment of people in a national service, most often a military service . Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names . The modern system of near - universal national conscription for young men dates to the French Revolution in the 1790s, where it became the basis of a very large and powerful military . Most European nations later copied the system in peacetime, so that men at a certain age would serve 1--8 years on active duty and then transfer to the reserve force . </P> <P> Conscription is controversial for a range of reasons, including conscientious objection to military engagements on religious or philosophical grounds; political objection, for example to service for a disliked government or unpopular war; and ideological objection, for example, to a perceived violation of individual rights . Those conscripted may evade service, sometimes by leaving the country, and seeking asylum in another country . Some selection systems accommodate these attitudes by providing alternative service outside combat - operations roles or even outside the military, such as' Siviilipalvelus' (alternative civil service) in Finland, Zivildienst (compulsory community service) in Austria and Switzerland . Most post-Soviet countries conscript soldiers not only for armed forces but also for paramilitary organizations which are dedicated to police - like domestic only service (Internal Troops) or non-combat rescue duties (Civil defence troops)--none of which is considered alternative to the military conscription . </P>

What does it mean to be drafted into the army