Editing Soldier (section)

===Conscription===
[[File:Norwegian soldier during Saber Strike 2015.jpg|thumb|[[Norwegian Army]] soldiers, conscripts, and officers during a [[NATO]] exercise in [[Latvia]], 2015]]

Throughout history, individuals have often been compelled by force or law to serve in armies and other armed forces in times of war or other times. Modern forms of such compulsion are generally referred to as "[[conscription]]" or a "draft". Currently, many countries require registration for some form of mandatory service, although that requirement may be selectively enforced or exist only in law and not in practice.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Countries with Mandatory Military Service 2023 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/countries-with-mandatory-military-service |access-date=January 29, 2023 |website=World Population Review}}</ref> Usually the requirement applies to younger male citizens, though it may extend to women and non-citizen residents as well. In times of war, the requirements, such as age, may be broadened when additional troops are thought to be needed. 

At different times and places, some individuals have been able to avoid conscription by having another person take their place. Modern draft laws may provide temporary or permanent exemptions from service or allow some other [[Non-Combatant Corps|non-combatant]] service, as in the case of [[Conscientious objector|conscientious objectors]].

In the United States, males aged 18-25 are required to register with the [[Selective Service System]], which has responsibility for overseeing the draft. However, no draft has occurred since 1973, and the U.S. military has been able to maintain staffing through voluntary enlistment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Selective Service |url=https://www.usa.gov/selective-service |access-date=January 29, 2023 |website=USA.GOV}}</ref>