Former NBA star Dwight Howard said Americans should have one year of mandatory service to build “discipline and structure.”
“Random. I honestly feel like the president should make one year of service mandatory for everyone born in America. A lot of other countries do it. And I think it would help with discipline and structure. I’m curious what yall think would this help America or nah,” Howard said.
Random. I honestly feel like the president should make one year of service mandatory for everyone born in America. A lot of other countries do it. And I think it would help with discipline and structure. I’m curious what yall think would this help America or nah.
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) December 29, 2025
Howard received mixed responses to his statement, with some saying it was dumb or that he should lead by example.
Some agreed and said younger generations have become “too soft.”
Dumbest shit you’ve said in a long time ngl… but you can serve a year if you want lol https://t.co/SUOSawi7AV
— Domo (@Dom_AggiePride) December 29, 2025
Millionaire who has never served and now has aged out of the possibility of serving thinks you should HAVE to be in the military now. https://t.co/OyY5fIiY2U
— Sad B (@Bee_Reel1) December 29, 2025
Will the rich and powerful have to do it as well? Or will it be loopholes for them to skip out? https://t.co/5tNZ4eZ15x
— #ZooBaby 🦍 (@FlayMackChicken) December 29, 2025
Lead by example or shut up https://t.co/U3lWZGNCXe
— Mr. Atkinson (@BEEeasy) December 29, 2025
I agree! https://t.co/52VXWg6517
— Cindy K (@MAGAMAHACindy) December 29, 2025
NGL. Not a terrible idea. The new gen has become way too soft. Korea has been doing it and you cannot avoid it or else you can’t enter the country. https://t.co/T3VdtkDy66
— BEN BALLER™ (@BENBALLER) December 29, 2025
According to World Population Review, 68 countries have some form of mandatory military service.
BBC shared some conscription examples in Europe:
Conscription is in place for nine of Europe’s Nato states: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and Turkey.
In Turkey, which has the second largest military in the security alliance after the US, men between the ages of 20 and 41 are obliged to do military service for between six and 12 months.
By comparison, Norway conscripts both men and women, generally for 12 months.
Croatia plans to reintroduce conscription next year – it will become mandatory for men aged 19 to 29 to undergo two months of basic military training.
Other Nato members do not conscript but have professional militaries.
The UK, which rivals France or Germany in conventional military strength (and is the only Nato state in Europe along with France to have nuclear weapons), relies on a professional army.
It is unique among Nato members for recruiting minors – 16-year-olds may join with parental consent.
Albania, Czechia, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain also have professional militaries.
ADVERTISEMENTDo you agree?
