Military Draft??

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061119/pl_nm/usa_politics_draft_dc_1

I think it's not a bad idea if we want to win the War in Iraq, but the biggest issue right now is IRAN!!

Dr Delight, i just have to say one thing, that is the stupidest thing i have ever heard.

Answer 1

Dr Delight...it seems you have put your head where your a s s is. :)

Answer 2

Some practical reasons for opposing a draft: a draft would actually exacerbate the manpower problem. I know that's counter-intuitive but it's true.

If we allow conscript troops we have to reorganize a force that we are already trying to reorganize. In fact we'll have to completely scrap the current Transformation steps taken over the past 4 years. Classic good money after bad (or bad after good in this case, as I see it) Conscripts require greater supervision than volunteers. That means a greater need for NCOs, especially junior NCOs like myself, and officers. When you do this it increases the size of the Team (the smallest element of an army unit), this increases the size of the squad, the platoon, the company and all the way up. It could easilly take another 2 present sized divisions worth of troops to fill out the 10 active duty combat divisions.

We have to buy more trucks and we have to scrap or APCs the Bradleys and Strykers, that were designed to carry a squad each.

Once you've made thise basic changes you now require new doctrine. Everything from movement, because of larger team, squad, and platoon sizes, to command and control because of a lowered reliance on initiative.

But that really isn't the heavy factor here. The one thing that absolutely will have to change is Basic Training. With crops of recruits arriving at the induction centers who are not self-motivated to be there, motivation must be imposed externally. That was accomplished, when we had conscription, by Drill Sergeants who were allowed to beat the tar out of recruits that did not do as they were told or who overtly challenged the authority of the training structure. We, not long ago, had a batch of Drill Sergeants and a Company Commander disciplined for comparatively mild mistreatment of recruits.

Perhaps the idea that you and your friends might have to face a Full Metal Jacket-like R. Lee Ermy type will help you shrink from this as a viable option. I just don't believe that a society that is shrinking from casualties in Iraq that are far less than the number of killed on our roads here at home could handle this idea.

What percentage of conscripts will stay and make a career of the military? If they are drafted for 6 years (even 4 is too short for many MOSs) which aligns with voluntary enlistment duration (there are variations, but I'm not going to go into that), then you start a revolving door which will inflate the number of people that are then entitled to one level of vererans benefits or another, unless you reduce benefits or raise requirements to be eligible.

A draft is impractical. So impractical, in fact, as to be impossible while also carrying on a war. 2 years, minimum, it would take to implement, and in that time you also have to take all operations offline.

Answer 3

First the only problems in the World is America and England.... not with Iran, Iraq are any other countries.
Also it is people like you who are uneducated and brain washed which forester the above regimes.
Third if you love your leader so much why don't you just run on down and join up instead of waiting for the draft?
Put your a s s where your mounth is?

Answer 4

WOW, Do you really really think its the Conservatives volunteering in the army now? WOW. DO you really think this? WOW WOW WOW !!!!!! You are joking right? Honestly, do you really believe that? My god, who told you that? PLEASE TELL ME WHERE YOU HEARD THIS. I bet Fox is the only station you listen to. Wow, I still cant believe you think this. My God its a proven fact on how they go after the poor,and unemployed, look at all the commercials with minorities or based in lower working class areas. after the initial patriotic rush of 911 (based on lies) (WMD) and some how Saddam has something to do with 911. you don't see many well off kids rushing in to join now.. I am a former military man, I volunteered and went in 6 months after the fall of Saigon and I do know they pump in your head as soon as you get there that Republicans are for a strong military, but if we do look at the last war, Vietnam, it was the poor and uneducated that HAD to go in under the draft, there were so many ways out if you had money. I just view this as more of a vietnam than a WW2. Most people dont believe in this war, just like vietnam

Answer 5

I'm sorry, but no thank you. I am currently serving in the U.S. Navy, have been for the past 12 years. Its bad enough I have to deal with young men and women who "volunteer" to join and then when they get there, don't want to be there. Forcing people to join will only degrade troop morale, effectiveness and increase discipline problems.

In fact, unless we were to go into a full-blown, World War III, I do not see how a draft would be effective.

It comes down to Quality vs. Quantity. I for one, want men and women who want to be there, not a larger group who have been forced to be there.

Answer 6

My Husband is an Infantry commander and was in OIF. We have spoke in depth about the war. His worst nightmare is for there to be a draft. A bunch of guys who don't want to be in the military, forced to serve in a war time situation. However, at the same time he said, when the **** goes down they will do what they have to do, for their themselves and their friend next to them.

Answer 7

the draft only if we can draft only democrats to balance out the numbers in the Military. Since the military is predominantly made up of conservative.

to jon j.....Check it out yourself. Facts are facts.

Answer 8

why is everyone talking about a draft???? not gonna happen