MILITARY SERVICE IN CHILE: IN HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This paper presents a historical approach to the military conscription system and its role in social insertion today. Its origin is found in Law No. 1,462 of September 5, 1900, called the Army Recruits and Replacement Law, which formalized entry into the army, establishing Compul- sory Military Service for the entire society. Furthermore, this regulation, which left aside the legal canons that regulated conscription in the National Guard Service, was influenced by the so-called Prussianization of the army, and in the future it has played a decisive role in the training of conscripts. Together with the reforms of the 2000s, in which the in- corporation of women stands out, training via SENCE, among others. It is shown how this instance, whose constitutional purpose is to train citizens to actively participate in National Defense is configured as a space for social promotion.