Board Thread:Speculation House/@comment-10380701-20150808021719/@comment-26018514-20150810151936

Gastropod wrote: Atlas having a conscript army does sound like a distinct possibility. Maybe those eligible have a choice to go for Huntsman/Huntress training instead of entering the military, which would be another reason why Weiss decided to enroll in Beacon. Perhaps Winter chose the other option.

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Also, just a side note, China doesn't actually have national service or conscription (they do by law, but it's not enforced in practice as it is in Israel, for example).

I see it as likely a delay of service for huntresses in training, like how in America you could stall deployment for college at certain points if they tried calling you for the draft, it makes a lot of sense for Atlas's situation, as manpower isn't lacking and a huntress is far more valuable than a mook.

On your side note; yes, Israel might be a better analogy.