THERE should be compulsory military training for men and women between the ages of 18 and 21.
This was a submission by Fiji's Peacekeeping Veterans Group (PVG) to the Constitution Commission last week.
PVG co-ordinator Taniela Senikuta said military recruitment should be conducted in Fiji's 14 provinces and Rotuma and from among all races.
"This will help youths build their character, become disciplined and help curb crime," said Mr Senikuta.
He said these young people should later serve the military for a year.
The PVG was formed to safeguard the interests and welfare of former peacekeeping and war veterans and their families.
Since, the establishment of the welfare group it has come a long way to ensure servicemen who have lost their lives or have been injured as peacekeepers in conflict or war-torn areas are compensated for.
"All these years, their entitlements to better basic pay, welfare and better conditions of service have been compromised," he said.
Therefore, he said, this was an opportune time for members to have their voices heard.
"We feel as a group that the State is not doing enough for its servicemen," he said.
For instance, he said the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in which Fiji participated for a quarter of a century ended with 37 peacekeepers losing their lives. "... their families are still crying for better compensation," he said.