military service; conscription
彼は来月から兵役に就く。
He begins his military service next month.
父は若い頃、持病のため兵役を免除された。
When he was young, my father was exempted from military service due to a chronic illness.
兵役を終えて故郷に戻った彼は見違えるほど逞しかった。
Finishing his military service and returning home, he looked remarkably strong.