The United States

• The United States hasn't used conscription as a source of military recruits since 1973, and generally falls into the class of nations that don't have mandatory conscription. The Selective Service System -- which requires every male citizen to register within 30 days of his 18th birthday -- leaves the option of a draft open, however. (Foreign men between ages 18 and 25 who live in the U.S. also must register with Selective Service.)
  
  

Germany

• Until 2011, the German Bundeswehr conscripted recruits. Every German male of military age who was eligible for enlistment and not a conscientious objector had to render six months of military service. Alternatively, conscientious objectors could render six years of civilian service. However, the Federal Ministry of Defence announced in November 2010 that the Bundeswehr would phase out conscription. Germany drafted its last conscripts in January 2011, and the Bundestag decided in March to abolish conscription completely, according to a BNO News report, effective July 1, 2011.
  
  

Countries Using Conscription

• As of May 2011, countries that still conscript soldiers include Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Venezuela, Russia, China, both Koreas, Taiwan, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Iran, Turkey, Israel, Finland, Norway, Austria, most of Africa and several others. In most such nations, men of military age must serve in the armed forces for a specific length of time. The minimum military age is usually 18 years old, but conscripted men can be as old as 22 or as young as 14.
  
  

Women

• Throughout history, conscription targeted men only. This changed in 1941, when the United Kingdom began including women in its wartime conscription. Although the UK does not conscript soldiers today, other countries began conscripting women, including Israel, Cuba, China, Taiwan, Eritrea, Malaysia, Peru and Libya, stated a May 2006 article by CBC News Online.