# The end of my life as civilian... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 23, 2003, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-my-life-as-civilian/183736 "2003-06-23T10:22:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-my-life-as-civilian/183736/1 "2003-06-23T10:22:45Z")
In less tha twenty-four hours I would cease to be a civilian… I am trying my best not to be too excitied or too worried (it is a complusory military stint…there’s nothing I can do to get away from it). Goodbye, freedom, for the next two and a half years… ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-my-life-as-civilian/183736/2 "2003-06-23T10:25:13Z")
Well, good luck. Where in the world are you? ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-my-life-as-civilian/183736/3 "2003-06-23T10:50:19Z")
Prolly Norway ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-my-life-as-civilian/183736/4 "2003-06-23T10:55:22Z")
They have two and a half years compulsory military service in Norway? That’s a new one on me. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-my-life-as-civilian/183736/5 "2003-06-23T12:44:23Z")
I know one (if not “some”) of the Scandinavian countries has compulsory military service. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-my-life-as-civilian/183736/6 "2003-06-23T12:47:39Z")
Yes, **GMRyujin** , I believe they all do. It’s the “two and a half years” that upsets me. Here in Sweden it’s a maximum of 15 months. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-my-life-as-civilian/183736/7 "2003-06-23T13:39:01Z")
I think Greece has compulsory military service as well. No idea on the length of time. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-my-life-as-civilian/183736/8 "2003-06-23T13:40:14Z")
Israel does, too…I think. Anyone? Anyone? Buehler? ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-my-life-as-civilian/183736/9 "2003-06-23T13:48:48Z")
Israel does, yeah, as do Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Estonia, Turkey and Cyprus, to name a few. It’s really quite common in the world. Most European countries have it and I wouldn’t be surprised to find that most countries in the world had it, but that I don’t know for sure. But: _two and a half years_? Day-diddley-am! ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-my-life-as-civilian/183736/10 "2003-06-23T15:47:49Z")
Singapore… ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-my-life-as-civilian/183736/11 "2003-06-23T15:53:17Z")
Nebraska?