In addition to grim economic and political conditions, mandatory military service continues to fuel an exodus of young Syrian men who might never return to the country.

Runaways and draft dodgers are now widespread, even those who support the Syrian government. And slowly but surely, desertion is draining Syria of some of its best and brightest — many of them choosing now to go to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). And for those who cannot get out, enlisting in militias or going to fight abroad may be the most lucrative opportunity left for them.  

Syria has had military conscription since 1919. Initially, enlistment was a patriotic duty and an opportunity for social mobility. Later, as the army became bogged down in unpopular wars, it earned a tongue-in-cheek epithet the "Army of Sandal-Wearers" due to overall poor equipment and morale.

Interviews with 20 Syrian military-age men in the KRI confirmed that before the current civil war, they tended to complete their military service regardless of any personal reservations. The system offered a formalized mechanism of exemptions — for being an only son or certain medical issues, for example. University students received automatic postponements that could be extended, and Syrians living outside the country could pay a fee in lieu of service. The right to conscientious objection was not recognized.