Men Born With Debt

By B.KHASH-ERDENE

Last week I received my military draft notice.

And to make things perfectly clear, I did not enlist in the military, nor do I have any desire to "serve" my country in this particular capacity.

Draft notices are sent to every able-bodied man over the age of 18 in Mongolia every year, as all men are required to serve a compulsory one-year military service in Mongolia.

People with disabilities or medical conditions, as well as students, men whose children are under the age of two, those living abroad, and those who have a "special" occupation are excused from military service.

Those who do not fall into the above categories, such as myself, are obliged to take a physical examination every year at a given place and time, regardless of their personal or professional schedule. If passed, the military has the right to take candidates away for service.

Given the option, most people in today's society would not choose to serve. Many men of service age view military service as a waste of a perfectly good year, and most are either in pursuit of higher education or have already formed a family of their own. Losing a year in one's education and career pursuits in the modern world can set one back a mile, and it is a nightmare for many who receive a draft notice.

If men don't go through the hassle of physical examination and registration at their local authority, they face monetary penalties. If one chooses not to serve, they are required to pay around five million MNT (an average year's income).

People find ways to avoid serving these days, such as medical conditions or taking courses at universities. But this shouldn't have to be.

Mongolia, a democratic nation that values human rights, shouldn't force its citizens to serve. No matter how politicians and military officials phrase it, they cannot get around the fact that this is blatant extortion, as if men are born with a debt to the country. Why are we obligated to serve in the military during peace time?

A decade ago, the military draft procedure was a mess. Candidates, unwilling or otherwise, would sometimes line up for hours for the mandatory physical and once passed, their heads would be shaven in the next room and they would be loaded onto a truck to be sorted.

Older men like to talk about their military duty and how they were enlisted. Many say that they had no intention of serving but "had to", because that's just how it was. But nobody has spoken out about ending conscription.

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