Conscription in Sjealand
Conscription in Sjealand, officially known as Duty of Defence (Tynic: Værnepligt) is the institution of mandatory military service in Sjealand. When men and women turn 18 they are summoned to the nearest military establishment where they will draw lots to decide whether or not they must serve. They typically serve nine to sixteen months in the Royal Sjealandic Army, Royal Sjealandic Navy, the Royal Sjealandic Air Force or the Emergency Management Agency, with both genders sharing equal responsibilities. Conscription is laid out in the Constitution of Sjealand, §72 and the Sjealandic Law of Conscription, §3. Every single able-bodied man and woman in Sjealand are obliged to participate in conscription.
Annually around 80,000 men and women complete the service, which gives a series of boons and support in the civilian life. Conscientious objectors may refuse to serve their conscription and instead have to complete 14 months of community service at one of 10 community service centers around Sjealand, though at reduced pay compared to their colleagues in the military and without the boons after service. Foreign citizens may apply to serve conscription in Sjealand, but are required to go through screening services and will not be issued translators.
History
Regulation
According to §72 of the 1828 Sjealandic Constitution, every able-bodied Sjealandic adult has to complete military service
Every person able to bear arms, must contribute to the common defence and security of the country as laid down by law.
— Constitution of Sjealand, §72
The law governing conscription in Sjealand has undergone several revisions since 1828.
Session
Upon their 18th birthday all Sjealandic citizens recieve a message on their digital mailbox, this requires them to fill out a health test for the armed forces. After a screening for any detrimental cases (for example amputees or people with terminal illness) the rest will be put into a group of possible soldiers and will be summoned to attend session at the nearest recruitment station to them. Recruitment stations are typically military bases and installations, but in remote or rural areas of Sjealand the military will typically send a dozen representatives and use a local public building. Summons to session exempts one from attending education, work or other duties on the selected day, and the summoned is allowed free public transportation to and from the selected recruitment station.
It is possible to request a deferrence from session for 5 times should extra-ordinary circumstances prevent the summoned to attend. Failure to attend once without a deferrence warrants a warning and a fine of 500₹. Failure to attend twice warrants a fine of 1500₹. Failure to attend three times results in the summoned being picked up by police and driven to the recruitment station and a possible 3 day prison sentence for pre-emptive desertion.
Once arriving at the recruitment station, the individual will show their printed out summons as well as photo-id. Following this they are led into the recruitment building where every person is issued a more detailed health test that also includes questions about the individuals mental state. Once these are filled out and delivered to the staff the attendees of the days session go through tests in mathematics, tynic and other intelligence tests. When these are finished the attendees watch a series of informational films about conscription and the armed forces.
When this is over a series of doctors call in the attendees for a thorough medical test and grade them on the following scale:
| Grade | Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Suitable | "Physically fit and without any major health ailments." | "To be enlisted for standard conscription." |
| Limited suitability | "Those whose physical and psychological constitution generally classifies as suitable, may either be allowed to serve standard conscription or administrative military work at the doctors behest." | "To be enlisted for supplemental service or or standard conscription depending on the doctors judgement." |
| Unsuitable | "Those incapable of performing military service due to any disease or mental or physical incompetence." | "To be exempted from military service." |
| Unsuitable at the moment | "Those unable to be graded due to an illness or injury that exempts them at the time but might be suitable at a later date." | "To undergo a follow-up physical examination" within two years. |
Drawing of lots
All individuals, no matter their suitability enter a final office after their physical exam. Here they will draw a lot from a tombola drum, the number on this deciding whether they will have to serve or not. Once a lot has been drawn the individual can wait with opening it and declare their intention to volunteer for conscription, which usually gives various bonuses. After this the lot is opened and numbers below 80,000 are typically conscripted.
A volunteer will, once his lot has been attached to his papers, go into the recruitment sergeants office and will be allowed to apply for any regiment or unit they desire provided there is a need for men in it. Volunteers can be allowed 2 years waiting space to get into their desired unit. Non-volunteers are allowed to either pick three preferred units or negotiate three conditions with the sergeant, for example if one does not want to serve close to their home. Once this has been done the individual will usually recieve mail within 4 months informing them that they are to serve conscription in a select unit, though time and place orders are usually only recieved four months before the service starts.
In the event of ongoing education the conscript can apply for a deferment of their service while they study.
Service
List of service areas
Army
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
| Area | Name | Location | Serving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative |  Naval Administrative Command
|
Flådestation Frederiksværn | 12 Months |
Air force
Emergency Management Agency
Military and non-military duty
Four months before their service starts, recruits recieve an online mobilization order from their unit. This includes: a welcome from the commanding officer of their battalion, company, camp or base, typically a lieutenant colonel or commander; a ticket giving them free public transportation to their barracks (for some this includes a ferry or plane ticket); a list of what they should pack and instructions on how to order their travel card. Additionally some mobilization orders include practical information about the unit, accommodations and tips for preparing themselves. Conscientious objectors are also notified four months before their community service but recieve less information than their military counterparts as their service is less intensive.
Boot camp
On the first day recruits arriving at the rail stations closest to their barracks are traditionally picked up in old military lorries by older conscripts who drive large detours playing songs about life in the military on the radio and warning the recruits of the sorrows they face. This is usually the recruits first experience of hazing in the military and when they arrive at the Guard Post of their barracks drill instructors usually divide the recruits into groups of 10-15 who are taken to the central gathering area. Once more during this older conscripts will be laughing and jeering from their windows, one of few breaches of discipline allowed in the military.
In their first week the conscripts are divided into their basic units, typically platoons and squads in the army and air force and decks in the navy. The general training of boot camp varies from unit to unit but in general all conscripts undergo basic training in, parade drills (very important in Sjealandic military culture, especially in the Royal Life Guard, PE, field training (this typically includes 3 preparatory field exercises focusing on various aspects and ending with the Mark-exercise during which the recruits earn their marks and are pushed to their furthest limits), weapons training, first aid, CBRN, signals and communication training, orienteering and basic firefighting. Additionally the navy gives swimming courses and sailing courses and the air force gives basic introduction to aviation.