Every fifth youth to serve in uniform. Let the rest perform community service.

Denmark is set to implement gender-neutral conscription starting January 1, 2026, meaning young women will be called up for national service alongside young men. The current goal is to have 6,500 conscripts annually, but the defense chief has recommended increasing this number to 13,000. This expansion means that, in a few years, approximately one in five individuals from a youth cohort will be required to serve.

However, the author questions why only a fraction of each youth cohort should serve. The proposal is to make mandatory community service, lasting the same duration as military conscription, a requirement for all young people. This service could be performed in various sectors, including elder care, hospitals, childcare institutions, public schools, residential facilities, and libraries, where additional help could significantly improve services and alleviate staff burdens.

Young individuals undertaking this community service would receive pay comparable to conscripts. They would also be provided with proper training for their roles. The author suggests that experienced professionals, such as care assistants or orderlies, would likely welcome the opportunity to guide these young people, knowing that patients and the elderly would receive better care without increasing the workload of existing staff.

This mandatory service would require a genuine commitment from young people, benefiting society. Beyond remuneration, participants would gain valuable experience for their resumes, mature through responsibility, acquire practical skills, and become part of a community. It could also help them identify potential career paths for future studies or employment. The author also raises the question of whether completing this community service should be a prerequisite for receiving student grants (SU), suggesting it as another relevant consideration.