On paper conscription is fair to all, but in practice you end up with scenarios like “I have dual citizenship and opt to live abroad” or “My family doctor has declared me unfit to serve because we bribed them to say so of my medical history which I can provide records for” or “Yes I am planning to attend university for the next 10 years, so I am eligible for deferment until I graduate.”
I don’t know what the policy is like in Finland, but if a loophole exists, the rich have the means to find it.
And even when some rich kid does end up getting drafted, it always ends up being that strings get pulled and they land a really cushy deployment like being a logistics officer somewhere nice and safe, or a secretary for leadership. Never seeing active combat.
I haven’t heard of any such exemptions, but I guess it will be really tested only if we have to go to war. It has been almost 80 years since the last time.
I think it’s interesting that Prince Harry was allowed to serve on the front lines in Afghanistan. Granted, he was a volunteer and not a conscript, but the fact that the queen even allowed it was surprising. When I heard he was joining up, I expected that he would be in some cushy back office, away from the fighting.
In Finland, (male) children of the elite serve in the conacription army just like everyone else. But of course if that doesn’t apply, it’s not great.
Do they really, though?
On paper conscription is fair to all, but in practice you end up with scenarios like “I have dual citizenship and opt to live abroad” or “My family doctor has declared me unfit to serve because
we bribed them to say soof my medical history which I can provide records for” or “Yes I am planning to attend university for the next 10 years, so I am eligible for deferment until I graduate.”I don’t know what the policy is like in Finland, but if a loophole exists, the rich have the means to find it.
And even when some rich kid does end up getting drafted, it always ends up being that strings get pulled and they land a really cushy deployment like being a logistics officer somewhere nice and safe, or a secretary for leadership. Never seeing active combat.
I haven’t heard of any such exemptions, but I guess it will be really tested only if we have to go to war. It has been almost 80 years since the last time.
I think it’s interesting that Prince Harry was allowed to serve on the front lines in Afghanistan. Granted, he was a volunteer and not a conscript, but the fact that the queen even allowed it was surprising. When I heard he was joining up, I expected that he would be in some cushy back office, away from the fighting.
The queen fought in ww2