One target of the King's program of militaristic nationalism, or nationalistic militarism,was the military itself. The same kinds of appeals the King made to the Wild Tigers he made to the military; in fact,the "Wild Tigers spirit" the spirit of self-sacrifice for love of country, the spirit the King hoped would animate the whole of the Thai nation, was, he said, essentially a warrior spirit that should find its purest expression in the soldierly ranks. In a speech on the responsibilities of the people to the nation, Vajiravudh pointed that it was particular responsibility of young men to serve in the armed forces and do the essential job of defending the country, It was impossible, he said, for a society to operate with each individual defending himself from internal and external dangers. The society needed armed force,police, and gendarmerie in order to ensure peace and make it possible for people to pursue their livelihoods. And these protective agencies needed to be staffed by young men, men who were both strong in their youth and still free from family responsibilities.This obligation of all young men was a kind of "expression of gratitude to their elders." And the "elders" in the society, the parents of the young men, should help instill in their offspring soldierly values, the desire to serve the nation as fighters for its freedom. Parents should willingly sacrifice their personal comfort by urging their sons to serve for the welfare both of the sons and of the nation. To encourage or aid a son to avoid military service was not an expression of love, for it denied the son the good training he would receive and it encouraged the son to the spend his time in wasteful ways. Vajiravudh told the parents that boys naturally "like being soldiers"; it should not be difficult for parents to abet that natural inclination.