As global tensions escalate in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, the specter of an “open confrontation” with Russia forces Australia to confront the prospect of conscription, according to Dr. Alexey Muraviev. The urgency of the situation prompts a revisit to the uncomfortable discussion of national service, last abolished in peacetime in 1972. The defense analyst calls for a proactive consideration of reinstating a form of national service to build a robust pool of trained reserves, challenging both current and potential future leadership.