HC Deb 06 June 1956 vol 553 c1067

(As at May, 1956)

Country Initial (Active) Service Reserve Service
Statutory period Effective period Statutory and effective period
(a) (b) (c) (d)
Months Months Years
BELGIUM
Max.24
Min.12 18 13½(2)
All services — — —
CANADA No compulsory military service
DENMARK
Navy 12(3) 15 28½(5)
Army 16(4)
AirForce 16
FRANCE
All services 18 18 26½(6)
GERMANY… No compulsory military service
GREECE
Navy 24 27–30(7) 27(8)
Army… 20–24
AirForce 24
ICELAND No compulsory military service
ITALY
Navy 28 23–24 22½(9)
Army… 18 18
AirForce 18
LUXEMBOURG
Army only 12 12 25
NETHERLANDS
Navy 24 21 13½(11)
Army… 18(10)
AirForce 21
NORWAY Not prescribed by law(12) 22½(13)
Navy 18
Army 16
Air Force 18
PORTUGAL
Navy 48 48 18(14)
Army 24 18(15) 23½(I6)
Air Force 36 36 19
TURKEY
Navy 36 36 22
Army… 24 24 24
Air Force
U.K.
All services 24 24 3½(17)
U.S.A.(18)
Army only 24 24 6 or 4(19)
NOTES:
  1. (1) The information given relates to conscripts below N.C.O. rank. (In many countries conscript and reserve officers, N.C.O.s and technicians are liable to serve for longer periods with both the active and reserve forces).
  2. (2) Total legal liability for compulsory military service and reserve service is 15 years counted from 1st January of the year that designates the class in which the national serviceman is included.
  3. (3) The period prescribed by law is 12 months. This can be increased in special circumstances.
  4. (4) 16 months except for Transportation Corps which still has 12 months. From autumn, 1956, the Transportation Corps will also have 16 months.
  5. (5) All conscripts are liable to be recalled for military service until the age of 50.
  6. (6) Divided as to "on call"—3 years; 1st Reserve-16 years; 2nd Reserve—7½ years.
  7. (7) Seamen serve for 27 months, the rest for 30 months.
  8. (8) The liability to serve extends from age 21 to 50.
  9. (9) Total legal liability for compulsory military service (active and reserve service) is from age 21 to 45. Reservists in Navy are recallable to Army after age 39.
  10. (10) The initial service is 20 months but conscripts are sent on "short leave" for the last two months. A conscript on "short leave" can be recalled at any moment.
  11. (11) Legal liability to recall extends to age 35.
  12. (12) Determined by Parliament, but not in form of law.
  13. (13) Legal liability for reserve service extends to age 44. In the Army, reservists are thereafter until the age of 55 years included in the "war reserve" or are compelled to serve with the National Guard.
  14. (14) Total period of compulsory military service in the Navy (active and reserve service) is from age 20 or 21 to 42. Reservists are then transferred to Army Reserve.
  15. (15) A relatively small number of Army conscripts are sent on leave after an initial period of 6 months' service.
  16. (16) Total legal liability for compulsory military service (active and reserve) extends from age 20 to 45. The period is as follows: Immediate recall—6 years, First line—12 years, Second line—5 years.
  17. (17) In addition, men called up before 31st December, 1953, remain statutorily liable on completion of their 5½ years' National Service liability, to recall as reservists up to 30th June, 1959, but are not required to carry out training during the latter period of reserve liability.
  18. (18) Induction is on a selective basis: at present men are being conscripted only into the Army.
  19. (19) Total period of liability for service (active and reserve) is 8 years for those inducted before 9th August, 1955. Those inducted after that date have a total liability of only 6 years.
Back to
Forward to