Should military service be mandatory for all U.S able bodied citizens starting at age 18?

Question

for at least one year of service (why/why not)

Answer 1

I feel that anyone that doesnt get a scholarship for college as a full time student will have to serve in the military for at least 2 years in turn will get the Montgomery GI Bill ($38,000) for college. The only reason being is because any citizen of the USA are US Citizens of a free country that needs your help. Plane and simple.

SSG Schramm
US Army 15 years
OIF 2003

Answer 2

MILITARY service? no. The military soesn't have the need for that many personnel, nor would a one-year service get them even CLOSE to being useful in the military. The additional personnel, most of which would be their against their will, (Call it a draft) would be more of a fiscal and manpower drain than the military can afford. A one-year's worth of some form of NATIONAL service I could get behind, comminity-service type work totaling some set number of hours would be an idea I could totally support.

Answer 3

It is for some countries like Norway, all able bodied males have to serve 2 years after high school (I believe). I think we should do that too, just so they can get a taste of it, even if they only have to go through boot camp and do paperwork or work in a kitchen for 2 years, at least they would have done something. And, maybe some of them will have found something they'd rather do than be thugs.

Answer 4

As a Navy Veteran, I don't think so.

BUT, I think Selective Service Registration SHOULD be extended to females, and I think there SHOULD be a form of NATIONAL service required.

I don't like military service of conscripts for the simple fact that our military doesn't depend on NUMBERS of bodies, but on the intelligence, motivation, and professionalism of those troops we DO have.

I don't like the idea of turning the military into a baby-sitting service for the youth of America... nor the admittance of druggies, drunks, petty-criminals, etc. It would drain funds and training time.

PUT those to work in a National / State Conservation Corps type program... cleaning trails, roads, highways, etc.

Answer 5

Military service only? I would think no. (one year barely gives time to train and settle in, minimum of two perhaps)

Perhaps a requirement for all to serve thier nation in some capacity? Some type of selfless service type situation. Plenty of other type things to do besides the uniformed services. Putting a couple years towards something bigger than one owns interests might be good for the Nation and each individual.

Answer 6

It use to be mandatory for all males in the U.S. to register for the Draft upon reaching age 18.

That was prior to the VietNam fiasco, when the American Public began seeing ROW-upon-ROW of coffins and body-bags being shipped home from Nam >>> over 58,000 DEAD young men (and women).

I wonder how high the body-count will have to total before people begin questioning the losses and gains of our current fiasco.

Answer 7

No.

Leaders of military units (noncommissioned officers) have better things to do than to try to herd the unwilling. It's a waste of their time.

If the purpose of the project is some kind of social engineering, to make them better persons or teach them skills, I think a mandatory year in the Boy Scouts would be more appropriate.

Leave our military for Defense purposes only, and if we ever can't get enough volunteers to defend this country, that would logically mean it is no longer worth defending anyway.

Answer 8

NO!

The Military has built up a professional fighting force we do not want conscripts.

On a personal note I am opposed to huge social programs such as this.

If you want to join the military Cool, but don't force others to join.

Answer 9

It would sure ensure that the citizenry and the military are throughly engaged. Probably save us $ we could use draftees to do KP instead of paying Halliburton for contractors at big $$$$

Answer 10

In America ppl take the freedom bestowed upon us for granted. If you want to enjoy & take advantage of such freedoms you should be willing to do whatever it takes to defend your freedom...So yes.