Conscription In The Outer Islands

Conscription varies by each island nation in the Western Outer Region. Currently, two nations require its men to serve in combat, which are Leland and Kelly Island. Sorbet Island does not have any armed forces and is instead dependent on its own swat team to protect and defend it.

The Western Outer Union doesn't have conscription, however, *all* WOU citizens between 18 and 28 and assigned male at birth are required to sign up for the WOU Military Charter which makes them eligible for conscription in the WOU military if a major threat is made to the union or any of its member state. Enforcement, however, is relatively weak and there are no penalties for not signing up for it and it is instead focused on granting benefits.

## Criticism

### Leland

King Leland IV has been criticized over his decision not to end conscription even after Desert Island's invasion of Kelly Island in 1994, but conscription was changed to only four years in 1996. Their conscription policy is among the most stringent on the Yoshi Planet and getting out of it is virtually impossible. Anyone who intentionally evades conscription will be convicted of treason and lese majeste and they will be sentenced to life in prison for such. All able bodied men are required to serve four years in the military and they can be drafted at any time for another 16 years, especially during a major war. Military duty is effective immediately after their 18th birthday and they must show up for duty on the day after they graduate from high school or their 18th birthday if it is after that.

Moving to another country will not change any of this. Under the Leland Conscription Act of 1973, all men are required to complete all four years of compulsory military service before they are allowed to move to another country and they are not allowed to move to any other country until their service is complete. Four years of military service is the only way anyone can legally obtain an international passport from Leland's Ministry Of Foreign Affairs. Any attempts to avoid conscription by fleeing to another country will result in life in prison for treason and lese majeste. Despite severe penalties for doing so however, most men who are caught and sentenced are eventually released if they contact a magistrate to request a release to serve in the military. Only the king may actually release that person on his discretion. Intentionally aiding and abetting a man from conscription will result in them also being imprisoned, even if they flee to another country.

Apart from men, Lelandians who were initially born male but became female later on are also required to serve in the military, as well as men who have mild disabilities but are still capable of doing military service. Only those born with disabilities that affect their mobility or those who are incarcerated or institutionalized are exempt from military service. However, should an able bodied person be released from prison or rehab will still be required to serve in the military for four years if they get out before their 18th birthday or shortly after their 22nd birthday.

Women are not allowed to serve in the military whatsoever and it is among the only places that continues this practice in the 21st century. However, they must obtain permission from their husbands before they can move to another country while conscripted, and they can still be arrested if they flee the country while their husbands are at war. Men who were initially born female but became male later on are also barred from doing military service.

### Kelly Island

Kelly Island has been criticized for requiring men to serve in the military but disallowing women from doing so. Attempts to fix this however have failed.