Military service

The debate regarding military service in Israel spotlights ultra-Orthodox Jews and their growing influence. These families are recognized as an unmissable facet of Israeli life.

Sen. Lindsey Graham's funeral in Washington includes remarks from Donald Trump and attendance by international leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Graham, known for his military service and global political influence, died suddenly at 71 from a likely aortic tear.

Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, a fallen soldier from Ozone Park, was described by her family as a calming and determined individual who was proud to serve the country she immigrated to as a child. Her aunt Judy Rackal and mother Carol Acevedo were present during discussions about her service.

Colombian men born in 2008 will turn 18 in 2026 and are required to complete compulsory military service, which lasts one year. A civilian peace-service alternative is available for those who opt out of military service.

A 67-year-old individual owns two mortgage-free homes valued at $2.8 million but has $19,000 in credit-card debt. They are considering a HELOC after their son was diagnosed with lymphoma, potentially linked to burn-pit exposure during military service in Afghanistan.

Israel’s parliament has passed two laws that will effectively allow the continued exemption of ultra-Orthodox men from serving in the military.

An Israeli high-school student faces possible suspension after distributing flyers urging classmates to refuse military service due to alleged war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank. The leaflets, organized by Mesarvot, accused the Israeli government of genocide and ethnic cleansing, with 130 students signing a refusal pledge. The school and municipality defended military service as 'a sacred value' and cited violations of school rules.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) historically considered military service a mitigating factor in enforcement actions, but veterans' advocates report this approach has changed under the Trump administration. Noncitizen veterans and active service members are now affected by stricter immigration enforcement.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews are protesting against serving in Israel's army. Some ultra-Orthodox Jews are serving in the military, while others face arrests for draft dodging and block highways in protest.

South Korean reporters faced backlash for mocking soccer star Son Heung-min's military service exemption, leading to a national team media boycott. The controversy highlights ongoing public sensitivity around mandatory military service exemptions for athletes, despite policy changes in 2008.

An NGO assisting Russian men in avoiding military service reported that individuals in Penza and surrounding towns described men being 'rounded up indiscriminately' by authorities. The reports suggest forced mobilization efforts in the region.

In 1865, Black ministers including Garrison Frazier met with General Sherman and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton to express Black Americans' desire to serve in the Union military as a means of securing freedom. The article contrasts this historical commitment with current actions by Pete Hegseth, who has removed tributes to Black military heroes and blocked Black officers' promotions, framing it as an attack on the legacy of Black service. The text highlights the role of Black soldiers in shaping the Civil War's outcome and the ongoing efforts to erase their contributions.

Ukraine plans a phased demobilization of its longest-serving troops, starting by late autumn 2026, based on military service and combat days. Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated that soldiers who have served since 2014 or 2022 may be discharged, though the exact number remains unclear.

Violence is escalating in Israel due to ultra-Orthodox military draft protests. The conflict over military service is causing protests that threaten Israel's political coalition and are reshaping political debates.

A divided appeals court panel ruled that the Trump administration's policy banning transgender troops from military service was illegal. The decision challenges the administration's transgender military service ban.

Al Jazeera explores the consequences and implications for individuals who refuse to participate in warfare. The article examines what objections to military service mean for people in modern conflicts.

Rom Braslavski, a former hostage held in Gaza for 738 days after being abducted during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, Supernova festival attack, described enduring physical and emotional abuse, starvation, and an unknown injection. He concealed his military service identity for months and was later subjected to isolation and humiliation by a guard at a camp near Nasser Hospital.

A survey found that half of British individuals under 30 would not take up arms for their country under any circumstances, highlighting a generational shift in attitudes toward military service.