Singapore

The government of Singapore was so impressed with the military capabilities of Israel that when, in 1960, the British removed their military stations from Singapore effectively leaving it completely defenceless they decided to call in some Israeli advisors from the strongest military in the world, and get their help. The Israeli advisors argued that in order to become the most powerful army in the world or at least in the area where Singapore was they needed to bring in conscription. Singapore agreed, but instead made several changes to the way that it was organised in Israel. In fact, there are two main differences. Firstly, National Service is gendered: only male citizens are required to take part in National Service, whereas women are not. Secondly, there is almost no excuse whatsoever for not taking part. By the time that a boy reaches sixteen years and six months old, he must report to the government to organise his National Service. Believe it or not, there are currently sixteen people in jail in Singapore for refusing to do their National Service; there is a three year prison attached to refusing. All sixteen of them are Jehovah s Witnesses. But at the end of the day, you cannot train one of the strongest armies in the world without being a little bit brutal, and Singapore has had to be incredibly strict in the way that it deals with people that refuse to comply with its rules.