I have to disagree here. As I read the novels, I was under the impression there was plenty of consent. They didn't have a choice, but they did consent. I'm not saying it was unanimous, though. We do have a few reports of inductees trying to escape.

: The Spartans of ancient times certainly didn't see a need to augment
: their subjects to defeat battle hardened armies.

Ah, but they were as 'brain-washed' as the Halo Spartans, weren't they?