I'm a Vietnam veteran who flew helicopters in the war. I would like to hear the opinions of our American youth on this subject. Would an equable draft, meaning if your number came up you served, be better for all concerned or would the All Volunteer arrangement we have now be best?
2007-07-16 23:21:09 · 9 answers · asked by Soldier 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I have mixed feelings on this one. I think a draft would make it so people had to give back to their country which is a great thing. I would be for it. On the other hand, all volunteer ensures you have the people there who want to be there. Sometimes when people don't want to do something and are forced to do it, they may do whatever it takes to get out of it. This could compromise the strength and integrity of military personnel. Questions would be asked such as "can I count on my fellow soldier to be there for me when they really don't want to be here in the first place?" Like I said, I have mixed thoughts but I don't think it would hurt anybody to be drafted.
2007-07-16 23:28:00 · answer #1 · answered by pd84 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I've been in the National Guard for 6 years, and did a 1-1/2 year deployment to Iraq. I think that the volunteer idea works, the problem is when there are civilian contractors over there that are making a few hundred thousand dollars a year doing basically the same thing that the military is doing, but yet the government isn't paying the military people enough money to deal with what they are having to do over there I don't think that's right.
2007-07-17 09:04:10 · answer #2 · answered by Bill S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do agree with the others that a volunteer system works better then a draft system. I really think things have changed quite considerably since the draft. But I do think that because of the draft and all the people who were drafted, they made the changes to the military to make it a better service for those who wanted to volunteer.
I also agree after being in the service, that I would rather have someone who wanted to be there watching my back then someone who kept looking for a way out because they were not giving a choice to be there.
Plus the service now-a-days, has a way of way of letting those people who join and then scramble in a fury to get out, let them out, which is fine by me.
In retrospect, other countries have sort of a draft, most Germans must serve two years in the military unless they go to college. Which I guess if you knew you had to do at least two yearrs in the service, you might be able to gear yourself up to the challange.
Anyway...I do think a volunteer force is better way to have a service.
2007-07-17 07:42:51 · answer #3 · answered by pecksun8 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think in the world we live in now the Draft would not be a good Idea. Simply because the military is so soft now and its so easy to get discharged and continue life as if you never were in.
Back in the days of the draft if you were a sh!tbag you would get the sh!t beat out of you, now if your a Sh!tbag you just get a counseling statement and worst possible action get a general discharge under honorable conditions.
We cant enforce a draft if we cant truly discipline our soldiers not that beating the crap out of them is really the right way to do things but letting them get off scott free isnt either.
Now if we had a huge war like WW3 or something than ofcourse everything would change the whole idea of discipline and military justice would change or should I say revert back to the "old ways" which will ofcourse happen sometime near or far into our future.
Im in the Active Army and serving my 2nd tour in Iraq and I see alot of examples of a weak military, weak leaders, weak soldiers everyday. Another thing im not a sexist but as females take a more active role in the military the Army gets softer and softer.
Now people who volunteer for the military will no doubt do better than those that didnt want to come in the first place, I think maybe they should bring back things like giving the option to criminals that meet a specific requirement a choice to join the Army or Marines instead of doing time, or making it mandatory for people seeking to become citizens of our country serve in the uniformed services with will require them to learn english, so they kinda earn the right to live here.
But bottom line drafting in our modern military would do more harm than good because none of them would want to do what they are being told to do and our "society" doesnt have the intestinal fortitude to "make" them or anyone else do what needs to be done.
2007-07-17 06:46:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was on active duty, none of us wanted a draft. Why would you want some jerk-off who doesn't want to be there, and doesn't care watching your back? If people don't have the willingness to serve, you shouldn't make them. They just become a drag on the system.
The other problem is, you wouldn't have an equitable draft, no matter how hard you tried. The rich friends of congressmen would stack the deck and rig the system like they always do, and they still won't have to serve.
Unless we got into a war with China or something, I just don't see a need for it. My dad got his commission just at the end of the draft period, and served all the way up until 2006. He said that the difference between draftees and the AVF (once they got out from under Jimmy Carter) was like night and day.
2007-07-17 06:46:22 · answer #5 · answered by joby10095 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a hard enough time trying to keep my guys working and in good discipline and they volunteered lol, i could imagine how hard it would be with some pot head highschool drop out that felt he got forced to do it.
Besides, i've noticed in the united states, people will organize quickly and protest and demonstrate when someone asks them to sacrifice a little bit for the greater good. but all those protestors would never volunteer for the military, but they feel fine using the freedoms the military protects to voice their opinion on why they shouldnt have to be drafted...when we all know its because they are too scared, lazy, and selfish
2007-07-17 07:06:18 · answer #6 · answered by bob p 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
thay need to go back the draft and give the some of the people that are in jail a choose go in the military or stay locked up
2007-07-17 11:05:06 · answer #7 · answered by casper 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A volunteer force is supposed to be better.
2007-07-17 06:42:38 · answer #8 · answered by Paul C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am currently enlisted in active duty Air Force. I know that if I had been forced to join I would not be happy about it.
2007-07-17 06:34:08 · answer #9 · answered by snizzay 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋