Yes Fayz, the military issue is typical in Italy and in all countries where serving in army is mandatory.
It is made for two reasons: first when you're between 18 and 26 yo to ensure your employer that he will not loose you (and mandatory pay you) for one year, after 26 to state that you did it or if you didin't it was for good reasons, because companies somehow involved with the Government are not allowed to hire someone refused for strange reasons (some sicknesses, mental problems, dishonour in leaving the army, etc.)
It could be considered not democratic or unlawful but this is done to avoid all the funky excuses young guys take to avoid army (mental sickness, fake homosexuality, fake depression, paranoid, etc.)
Btw, I have it in my Italian cv and I took it off from the English one...