Why is desertion treated as a crime?

[Philosophy Explorer]

Seems that I would want someone on my side who has his heart in his work.

PhilX

[uwot]

Because if their aren't enough bodies in between, the people who start wars are likely to be hit.

[Philosophy Explorer]

Because if their aren't enough bodies in between, the people who start wars are likely to be hit.

I don't think humor is your strong point.

PhilX

[uwot]

Well, I can't be good at everything.

[Jaded Sage]

Because desertion is for pussies, and crime is for pussies. Therefore, desertion is a crime.

That was a joke.

[Pluto]

Because power doesn't want it to happen

[Jaded Sage]

Because it is in the interest of the group to discourage leaving the group.

[henry quirk]

Look at it as breach of contract.

And: if your heart ain't in it, don't enlist.

[Skip]

This law generally becomes an issue with conscripts, not enlisted soldiers.
First, they put a burden of social shame on running away before the summons arrives. So a lot of boys do come when they're called up. Once they discover the untruth of what they've been told about their enemy, their circumstances, their officers, their their deployment and their equipment, they have a much greater incentive to run away. If you were told to do something dangerous that you don't want to do, then running away has to be made a worse option than staying. Otherwise, you'd have to pay them mercenary rates, and that would leave too little profit for the ordnance suppliers.

[vegetariantaxidermy]

This law generally becomes an issue with conscripts, not enlisted soldiers.
First, they put a burden of social shame on running away before the summons arrives. So a lot of boys do come when they're called up. Once they discover the untruth of what they've been told about their enemy, their circumstances, their officers, their their deployment and their equipment, they have a much greater incentive to run away. If you were told to do something dangerous that you don't want to do, then running away has to be made a worse option than staying. Otherwise, you'd have to pay them mercenary rates, and that would leave too little profit for the ordnance suppliers.

Well said.