Should we have a draft?

Question

Why or why not?

Answer 1

A draft, not necessarily, but conscription should be happening. I believe that Americans today take their freedoms too much for granted. This is made possible by the sacrifices of todays Armed Forces men and women. The children of today take everthing for granted (mine included) and want everything handed to them on a silver platter (mine included yet again). If conscription was instated, all men and women at the age of 18 (pending no physical or mental issues) should serve a minimum of two years of military service (one of the five branches). That would teach the youth of today Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Pride (the 7 Army Values). They would become better citizens and better people in general.

Answer 2

There is already a draft of sort in place NOW. It goes by the name of 'Stop Loss Gap'. Soldiers that are on active duty (in some fields or MOS) whose End of Active Obligated Service (EAOS) date has rolled around and passed, but they can't go anywhere. A 'back door' draft. How happy and willing to fight do you think these soldiers are? They have served their time and STILL can't move on with their lives. They have made plans to go home, start a family, use G.I. Bill to attend school, use VA certificate to buy their dream house, and then hit that brick wall of sorts trying to leave out the front gate.

They may as well remove their name tape and replace it with a number as they deploy for another round in the sandbox. The troops that fall into this category may as well be called government inmates on work release.

Answer 3

Never! The only circumstance where I would support a draft is if our country was in serious jeopardy of being defeated and overrun.

One of the strengths of our military is all-volunteer nature of it. Individuals who join the military tend to be motivated to serve. If we instituted a draft, that strength would disappear within the anger and resentment that would undoubtedly surface from pissed off draftees.

Look at the 70's. When we had the draft during Vietnam, the military developed some serious problems. During Vietnam there were more deserters than combat troops killed (over 65,000 Army deserters by 1970, compared to 58,000 killed by the end of the war in 1975). Going AWOL was so common, at the height of the war, a new soldier went missing every 3 minutes. Drug use was rampant. Some surveys suggest upwards of 80% of troops were using some type of drug.

Our military should remain now as it has for more than 30 years. The system works. Recruiting efforts should be increased or glamorized to pull in more recruits.

From where we stand in Iraq, a draft would be a backward move. It would bring in needed recruits, but at what cost?
Anti-war protests would explode and civil unrest would emerge victorious, ultimately leading to a US pullout and defeat.

Sound familiar?

Answer 4

I have mixed emotions on this issue. On one hand I like the idea of a draft...without any type of deferments except for major illness. It would be the most democratic way. On the other hand drafting people into the military that don't want to be there generally is not a good thing and affects military cohesiveness especially in combat situations.

Gringo above is a perfect example of why you don't want a draft...it would screen out the mommas boys, nose pickers and panty wearers like him.

Let me include Seldom seen in that category as well. I would like to know where he served and wore the uniform...Cub Scout membership does not count. Bush served honorably as a fighter pilot in the Air Guard..is he saying Guard service is draft dodging and worthless?

USMC 66-69 2/9 RVN 67-68

Answer 5

Yes, we should have a draft. The burden of America's wars should be shared by all the population, not just a small percentage of the families in our country. It would make it more difficult for politicians to start a war as Bush did in Iraq, if our military was composed mostly of citizen soldiers, not a professional military.

Also, we would be out of Iraq by now if most of the troops their had been drafted, as many more people would be demanding that Bush end the war just as happened in the Vietnam war. There would be huge crowds of people marching on Washington, DC chanting "end the war." Finally, the politicians would think twice about sending US troops into combat if their children were in the military!

Answer 6

The draft will only happen if recruiting precentages lower. But each branch of the military so far has surpassed thier Quota. So a draft is unlikely.

Answer 7

Only if the draft includes politicians children.

Answer 8

I completely disagree with the draft. I DO NOT want the life of my husband in the hands of someone who didn't choose to be at his side fighting. I only want soldiers who are passionate about being there to be watching his back. He needs to be able to count on his fellow soldiers and he wouldn't be able to do so if he were surrounded by Americans who were too scared to volunteer. It is however a possibilty b/c we have a tired, over-worked Army. There is a vast percentage of military members getting out rather than staying in b/c they don't want to spend 15-18 months away from their familes.
Recruiting efforts should NOT be glamorized. If anything they should be de-glamorized. Every recruiting commercial I've ever seen has had soldiers in clean ACUs, well-rested and showered. Its false advertisement.

Answer 9

Yes, as long as George W. Bush's kids are included.

While you're at it, draft Bush too since he punked out the last time we had a draft. How's that for a momma's boy, nose picker and panty wearer?

Answer 10

Make serving in the military a path to citizenship. There are seveal million illegals that might consider enlisting if they could get citizenship thru that.