Conscription in Sweden is 9-12 months, depending on role. In 2023 it was 6000 men and women. Much fewer than when I did my service in the 80s, about 35 000/year then. The length is similar though.

The European defense in general hasn’t switched to drone based defense at the same level that Ukraine seems to have done relatively successfully.

My point is that you need it for mental preparedness.

NATO does not have unlimited, or even especially deep, precision munition depth. There is absolutely a need for warm bodies manning anti-tank, artillery, and now FPV drone (10-20km range), positions.

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While I am firmly of the belief that volunteer armies are preferable to conscription, I would wager the number of conscripted folks willing to shoot at someone invading their homeland is high enough for this to not matter.

In most of Europe people can legally buy alcohol at 18. Even in the relatively puritanical UK a 16 year can be served alcohol with a meal in a restaurant. The age limit for drinking alcohol in private settings is MUCH lower.

On you main point, physical strength is clearly still important for some roles. Women are also more vulnerable in some wars where rape is used as a weapon or war (although men are not immune). On the other hand, in general, I agree with you that women should be trained and conscripted if men are. Not being as good at all roles, does not mean they cannot be as good at some.

It covers women in at least Sweeden and Norway, and Denmark is also moving in that direction.

Makes sense, we are not fighting wars with swords and clubs anymore.

You train everyone at 18, but send them to war when the war comes - when people are 25, 30, or 43.

18 year old boys are literally stupid enough to charge a machine gun nest.

Biology