...Military draft is a system for selecting young men for compulsory military service, administered in the United States by the Selective Service System. At present, the United States relies on a volunteer military and does not have a draft, though young men are required by law to register with the Selective Service. This policy was eliminated in 1973 and most American were happy to have it gone because they did not have to fear the military draft. There are current arguments though that wish to bring back this policy and think it would benefit the country. The military draft is seen as a bad thing because it tears apart families, but some believe it brings the world closer to peace and settlement. A military draft brings men into the service through the selective service. The men are assign specific places among the military based on their skill level. The military draft helps improve the skills of the men, which would help in the workforce. The military draft improves foreign policy with all nations. It also improves our countries safety. It also helps us in times of a crisis. So as a citizen being drafted with a basic skill level. A draftee is bound to gain more knowledge and build on their skill levels. This makes the draft helpful to the U.S. as a country and to its citizens....
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...The Military Draft By Central Texas College English 1301 10 February 2009 The Military Draft The United States has not used the Military Draft since it ended in 1973. Over the last five years, there have been proposals to reinstate the draft. We have had an all volunteer Military for three decades and have endured three conflicts in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Under the draft twenty years ago the Military services were smaller yet today with the volunteer Military has met their enlistment quota to date. Even with this information, I personally feel that the Military Draft should be reinstated for many reasons. Largely in part that we will ensure to have forces to defend our great country. There is not a lot of support for the draft to be reinstated from the American public. Many feel that it is not right to put their sons and daughter in harms way in Iraq or Afghanistan by drafting them. They actually believe that our all volunteer military can meet recruitment goals and that other countries cannot defeat ours. James Jay Carafano, Ph.D. said that “returning to the draft represents a failure of democracy, not a means to ensure its future” (par. 13). The majority of Congress does not support reinstating the draft and believe that our military services should remain all volunteers...
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...| | | Against Military Conscriptionby Congressman Ron Paul, MDMr. Speaker, I rise to introduce legislation expressing the sense of Congress that the United States government should not revive military conscription. Supporters of conscription have taken advantage of the events of September 11 to renew efforts to reinstate the military draft. However, reviving the draft may actually weaken America's military. Furthermore, a military draft violates the very principles of individual liberty this country was founded upon. It is no exaggeration to state that military conscription is better suited for a totalitarian government, such as the recently dethroned Taliban regime, than a free society. Since military conscription ended over 30 years ago, voluntary armed services have successfully fulfilled the military needs of the United States. The recent success of the military campaign in Afghanistan once again demonstrates the ability of the volunteer military to respond to threats to the lives, liberty, and property of the people of the United States. A draft weakens the military by introducing tensions and rivalries between those who volunteer for military service and those who have been conscripted. This undermines the cohesiveness of military units, which is a vital element of military effectiveness. Conscripts also are unlikely to choose the military as a career; thus, a draft will do little to address problems with retention. With today's high-tech military, retention is the most...
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...States draft, poet Robert Frost remarked, “Pressed into service means pressed out of shape.” Although the United States has replaced a mixed army consisting of draftees and volunteers with an all-volunteer army, the Selective Service System still allows the government to draft suitable men between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five in case of a national emergency (Olson-Raymer, par. 48-50). When the United States invaded Iraq, hundreds of thousands of Americans voluntarily enlisted (par. 55). Despite the abundance of soldiers, military personnel claimed that there was a shortage of soldiers, and a draft would benefit the war effort (Thompson and Zabriskie, par. 7). Fortunately, the draft was not enacted and still remains...
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...Reinstating the Military Draft The military draft has been used several times throughout the United States history. It has been used for different conflicts such as the World Wars, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. By 1973, the country switched to an all-volunteer military service, abandoning the concept of the military draft (Brisbane, par. 1). Congressman Charles Rangel planned to introduce a legislation calling for the draft reinstatement. If a military draft is reinstated, everyone, no matter what social class the person is, will have to do his or her part in the defense of our country. Of course there are people who oppose the military draft by saying that it is not very democratic and that it violates the freedom this country is know for fighting for. Congressman Rangel said, “There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way” (Williams, par. 1). Whether the military draft should or should not be reinstated is an ongoing debate that will never end. Many people believe that a compulsory draft violates one's personal freedom. Although some proponents of the military draft claim that anyone living in a society owes the society his liberty, and he should therefore be obligated to fight to preserve...
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...Service: A Duty? A Benefit? Or Both, Or Perhaps Neither? While the choice of service to your country, on a national, state or local government level, is an admirable and important endeavor, the choice should be driven by one's own conscience. To think globally, or for the good of the nation and even for the future - cannot be forced! It has to be a part of who you are, what you stand for and your ability to see beyond your own need. Compelling someone to serve, as in the military draft(conscription), is a non effective notion that will not guarantee the strength and quality of its military and further divides us, as a nation. There exists examples of what conscription can do to a nation from the Vietnam War/Conflict. People chose to leave their country, casting off all that they knew and loved instead of serving in the military. Anti Draft and Anti War demonstrations were everywhere, chaos. Citizens faced prison time and were ostracized because of their refusal to serve and their views against the draft and war. A matter of Patriotism can not be governed by politicians and gauged by others who have different views from yours – it should be left up to the individual. There is no evidence to prove that because of the draft, we were a fighting force to be reckoned with or we had the most proficient fighting Soldiers in history, or that the cost of the war was less expensive. There is, however, more evidence to prove the contrary. If someone wishes to serve...
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...Would the reinstitution of the draft end the fake adoration of the military members? If there is a draft then they would all have to work for their heroic title. Being in the military is a job, therefore, the word soldier would regain its meaning that has been lost over the years. Not all veterans want to be praised or labeled because doing so separates them from everyone else. Harry Hershey says that the only way to solve problems would be to inducing the draft. The authors Andrew Bacevich, William Deresiewicz, and Clay Bonnyman Evans also have similar views and agree that instating the draft would be helpful. I say to avoid the separation of veterans from society we should reinstitute the draft. The author of “Today’s Soldiers are Proud...
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... Since the primary intent of Congressman Rangel, Hartmann and others in reinstating or supporting the draft is antiwar, portraying this legislation as a national service program offering a choice of a nonmilitary alternative -conscription into the civil service - is disingenuous and a distraction from its true purpose and goal. What possible relevancy does forced service in the Peace Corps, for example, have to ending unnecessary war and American apathy? Further, should Congressman Rangel's Bills become law, as endless and futile wars for profit, greed and power continue and escalate, is it realistic to assume that draftees will choose military service in adequate numbers to restore the ranks of injured and killed combatants? Or, as is more likely, wouldn't "national security" considerations require an abrogation of choice and individuals to be conscripted into the military regardless of their preference? In reality, then, these bills are not about creating jobs and rebuilding this nation's infrastructure. Nor is their purpose to provide American youth with much needed discipline, structure, responsibility and an opportunity to recommit to their country. Nor will they accomplish these goals should they be enacted. Though misleadingly titled a National Service Bill, what is being proposed here is clear and simply nothing other than the reinstatement of a military draft. The Moral and Legal Argument against Conscription While I share Congressman Rangel's and Thom Hartmann's...
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...Throughout history, the United States military has been heavily centered and controlled by men. American males have invariably carried the burden of defending their country at all cost without any excuse. By law they are obligated to register for the Selective Service within one month of their 18th birthday and are required to participate in a national draft if needed. The Selective Service act states “it shall be the duty of every male citizen of the United States, and every other male person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six, to present himself for and submit to registration” (Section 453 (a), Military Selective Service Act). On the contrary, women have never held the same obligations or responsibilities...
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...countries. In order to defend or protect the country, the United States has to have a military, including all branches of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The establishment of the military will be different in other countries. In some countries, they require military service or call conscriptions. In this field, there are some countries that require it; such as, Brazil, Germany, Israel, Switzerland, South Korea, Mexico, and Russia (Gill 3). However, in other countries, they just have volunteers to join in armies, including Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In both types, supporting or attempting to disprove, try to convince the population in this country by showing facts, opinions, and also research. This essay focuses on some good reasons for having a mandatory military, and good reasons for having a volunteers. Mandatory military provides so many opinions from the opposite sides; such as, immoral, little motivation to properly serve in the armed forces, and also saving money for the country (Gilroy 20). However, the draft would increase the standards for recruitment, expand the Army to the sufficient size, provide sufficient forces to fight in the wars, and gives a chance for young people to develop their future (Yingling 15). In the beginning, conscription or popularly known in the United States as "The Draft" means compulsory enrollment of persons for military or naval service requested by some established authorities. Nowadays, it means serving...
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...United States military should be based on a conscription style of enlistment has been debated for many years. The US has had several instances where conscription, or “draft” as it was referred to a few times, was enacted to supplement troop numbers during a period of conflict. Some proponents for conscription believe it would be a benefit to the military, where others believe it would cause more problems than it solved. This paper discusses some of the pro's and con's of conscription and discusses whether or not this is a good thing for the country or whether some sort of “modified” version of it would be more palatable and effective. Perhaps the “if it's not broken don't fix it” adage applies here. To Conscript, or not to Conscript How would you feel if it were mandatory for you to serve in the United States military? Would you have an issue with it or simply feel it was your patriotic duty? Many people across the country believe that the armed forces should have a conscription service enacted to require citizens 18 years old and up to serve (for a specific time, opinions vary) vice the voluntary system used today. This is largely due to people thinking today's youth need to feel ownership in their country and to know what it's like to have to defend our principles and way of life. Basically, having “skin in the game” so to speak. Proponents feel that a “modified” conscription service would cure the ails of the Vietnam era draft system by giving...
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...little to bring prosperity to the American people. By the end of the 1930s, 17% of the American work force remained unemployed; 30% still lived in poverty; and the most needy and least organized citizens, such as domestic workers, sharecroppers, new immigrants, blacks, and unmarried women, reaped few of the New Deal benefits. FDR's great experiments, then, did not end the Great Depression. Only mobilization for a world war would bring an end to the most devastating economic crisis in United States history. In late 1939, a full two years before the United States entered World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt decided it would be necessary—and perhaps wise—to invest time and money into national defense. Despite his promise to keep the nation out of the war escalating abroad, Roosevelt carefully and deliberately prepared the country for a worst-case scenario. By the spring of 1940, he convinced Congress to increase defense spending, enlarge the army, and expand the U.S. military air fleet. Through billions of dollars in federal spending—largely focused on rearmament and national security—he managed to funnel money into a peacetime draft, increase wages for military personnel, offer subsidies for defense manufacturing, and grant loans to aid Great Britain and the Soviet Union. (Not exactly invoking neutrality in his decision to assist the...
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...Consequences of Changing the Military Retirement System The military retirement system has been largely unchanged since the 1940s. The Defense Business Board says, “The [retirement] system was designed in an era when life spans were shorter, draft era pay was substantially less than civilian sector pay, second careers were less common, and skills acquired during military service were not transferrable to the private sector” (“Modernizing the Military Retirement System”). With national debt exceeding $16 trillion, there is no question that budget cuts need to be made. To reduce debt, the government is considering altering the current military retirement plan. Updating the military retirement system is one way to trim a small amount of spending, but that would come at a great cost to national security. For many service members, the only reason to stay in the military for 20-plus years is for the benefits. When service members retire from the military, they receive healthcare for a minimal fee, tax-free shopping on base, and a pension that pays two-and-a-half percent of their base pay for each year of service. Considering some retire at age 38, the pension can become very costly over the course of one’s life. The normal civilian-sector job does not receive any type of these benefits, but the civilian sector is vastly different from the military. Military members must stay in top physical shape; move every three to four years; deal with multiple deployments to combat zones; be...
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...received full American support. The draft, known today as compulsory conscription, was an integral part of that war. Seventy percent of American men aged 18 to 35 served. The common experience shared amongst these men created lifetime friendships for an entire generation. No other conflict since then has come close to producing such national unification and pride of citizenry. So states Charles Moskos, late professor of sociology for Northwestern University, recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for the U.S. Army, and a draftee for the U.S. Army Combat Engineers (Moskos). Currently, however, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the official estimate of the American veteran population is approximately 24,816,000 (“Veteran”). Total U.S. population exceeds 301 million people (“The New Boomers”). In other words, the ratio of veterans to the total U.S. population is less than 10%. Comparison of these figures reflects that American enlistment ratios in the U.S. Armed forces have decreased dramatically since World War II. The U.S. is a dominant military force in the world today; however, it also has allies that it must help protect and defend in the name of democracy. As a result of the above, American forces are involved in multi-theater (or diverse worldwide) roles, both simultaneously and continuously, thus spreading out our troops over diverse areas. Additionally, the extended war on terrorism continues to deplete American military forces, and international news...
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...received full American support. The draft, known today as compulsory conscription, was an integral part of that war. Seventy percent of American men aged 18 to 35 served. The common experience shared amongst these men created lifetime friendships for an entire generation. No other conflict since then has come close to producing such national unification and pride of citizenry. So states Charles Moskos, late professor of sociology for Northwestern University, recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for the U.S. Army, and a draftee for the U.S. Army Combat Engineers (Moskos). Currently, however, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the official estimate of the American veteran population is approximately 24,816,000 (“Veteran”). Total U.S. population exceeds 301 million people (“The New Boomers”). In other words, the ratio of veterans to the total U.S. population is less than 10%. Comparison of these figures reflects that American enlistment ratios in the U.S. Armed forces have decreased dramatically since World War II. The U.S. is a dominant military force in the world today; however, it also has allies that it must help protect and defend in the name of democracy. As a result of the above, American forces are involved in multi-theater (or diverse worldwide) roles, both simultaneously and continuously, thus spreading out our troops over diverse areas. Additionally, the extended war on terrorism continues to deplete American military forces, and international news...
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