The conscript system is currently used by a large number of countries, including the majority of small nations. This study examines the appropriateness and effectiveness of a conscript military forces (foreign) as a credible defense system for small countries. This study analyzes the factors which caused Singapore and Taiwan to have a conscript military force and the effectiveness of those conscript systems. The factors include geography, threat assessment, defense policy, historical circumstances, population/society, and economic considerations. The analysis of the effectiveness of the conscript system covers four military criteria and four non-military criteria which relate to the operational readiness of the armed forces and the contribution of the military system to internal national objectives. The study shows that given the inherent factors and constraints, the conscript system is suitable in providing Singapore and Taiwan with the type of military force required for their defense needs. The conscript system has been effective in contributing to the military efficiency of the armed forces as well as in supporting other non-military national internal objectives. The study provides insights into the rationale for a small country's adoption of a conscript system and the effectiveness of the system. It also provides a conceptual framework that will facilitate analysis of the choice and effectiveness of a conscript system.

ADA 199851 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)