Voluntary and

Compulsory Military
By Alessandro, Meshach &
Rendy - 9.1

Introduction

Military and Police Force

Indonesia has its own military force named Tentara Nasional
Indonesia and also a police force named Kepolisian Negara Republik
Indonesia. It is offered as jobs and has salary.
In Indonesia, military is voluntary.
Countries that enforce compulsory military are Singapore and South
Korea.
The purpose of the military and police force is to ensure the state
defense of the country.

Military and Police Force

The military and police force is an important aspect of state defense

because it protects the country from threats and enforces the law.
Both compulsory and voluntary methods of joining the military have its
positive and negative effects and there are also some factors that
force some countries to enforce the law of compulsory military.

Background Information

State Defense, TNI and Polri

State defense is the effort of defending a country done by all the
citizens. This also applies to the military in which the soldiers are
tasked with a duty and purpose.
The TNI consists of the Army, Navy and Air Force and its main duty is
to uphold state sovereignty, defend territorial integrity and to protect
the citizens from threats against the integrity of the nation.
The Polri is made to run the government functions in the community,
which includes maintaining the security, upholding the law, protecting
and serving the community and maintaining peace in the nation.

Compulsory and Voluntary Military

Compulsory
Also known as conscription.
People are required by law to
serve as a part of the military.
Enforced by countries such
as Singapore and South
Korea.

Voluntary
People are not required by
law to serve as a part of the
military.
Enforced by countries such
as Indonesia and United
States of America.

Analysis

Compulsory
Military
Positive Effects

Enough supply soldiers to

sufficiently and effectively
protect citizens.
Every citizens has the same
social and financial status.
This same experience will
boost the nations unity.
People will acquire useful skills
physically and mentally.
Ensure
the
citizens
governmental participation.

Compulsory
Military

Negative Effects

The quality of the force is not

guaranteed to be good.
Increase the rate of mental
problems
and
emotional
repercussions of the citizens
because of experiencing the
military and police force.
Limits the citizens right of
happiness.

Compulsory
Military

Negative Effects

Unfair for the people who have

physical disabilities as they will
be treated with contempt.
Affect the education because
people will need a longer time
to study in order to have a
higher-level job. Affect the
potential
earnings
and
experience of the person.
Young lives are at risk because
youths need to join the military.

Lesser budget needed to train

the soldiers.
Improve the quality of the
soldiers
because
the
volunteers know what they are
going to face.
Improves
the
combat
effectiveness of the whole
army as the soldiers are
enthusiastic in the pursuit of
knowledge of combat skills.

Voluntary
Military
Positive Effects

The needs of the military are

not fulfilled because of the lack
of soldiers.
Unfair for the soldiers as they
need to go on wars while the
other citizens are enjoying their
lives.

Voluntary
Military
Negative Effects

Increase of mental problems

and emotional repercussions of
the soldiers they need to go on
multiple tours of duty.
Reckless invasions happen
because the military does not
need to justify a draft to the
public thus making it easier to
wage wars.

Voluntary
Military
Negative Effects

Conclusion

Best Method of Military - Voluntary

Voluntary method is more effective for the benefit of the people.

It improves the quality of the military as the soldiers volunteered to be a part of
the military, which makes them more eager to learn the skills in combat and it
is fair for them.
The citizens may have different future interests and they should have the
right to choose. They could work in other important jobs such as teachers and
doctors.
Although this may decrease the quality of the forces, it is better to create a
good military community.
Even though this method will not boost the nations unity and the citizens will
not be able to acquire skills, the government can devise other plans to solve
this problem.

Conditions in Different Countries

Indonesia is one of the most populous countries therefore the
compulsory method is not needed because there will always be
enough soldiers.
This is different for countries that are not very populous, such as South
Korea and Singapore. It is needed that they make the military
compulsory.
There is also a case in which a country needs to enforce compulsory
because they have an eternal enemy. This is the case that happens
between South Korea and North Korea. Both countries should always
be prepared for attacks and always keep guard on the borders.

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