What do you think about mandatory military service for everyone in the US for two years?

Question

Any branch. Needs to be full time service. I think it would be good for a lot of kids. And everyone would be able to use the Veteran hospital (eventually).
Lemme know why and why not, please.

Answer 1

Every young healthy individual would benefit. It would be extremely beneficial to everyone if the young healthy individuals the government has support through welfare since they’re birth could be helped one last time by giving them some direction in their life with military service. It is very disturbing; this large amount of young individuals that believe life is just fine living in and hanging out in these public welfare housing developments. For many this is the only life they have ever known.

There are extremely too many young, very healthy individuals with no direction in life that need to be directed into becoming a productive member of our society. Since the government and our taxes have already paid to raise these young very healthy individuals since they were born; this alone should make it mandatory for these young minds who have a very narrow concept of life, finally being shown a greatly structure family environment like in our military. This would greatly benefit everyone.

If someone doesn't step in and guide these young and bored minds, many more will be lured into the family and money in the illegal drug market. I've watched this happen for three generations now; this history here just keeps repeating itself and keeps the illegal drug industry more profitable than the oil industry

Answer 2

mandatory service to the government is a very bad idea and it teaches lessons to those that serve about government dominatation and subtigation to the state. it reduces the peoples will to stand against the government. if you will serve your fellow man on an individual basis or through a completly voluntary effort such as red cross or a church or other local charity it will do much more good in the long run.and may reduce the need for so many services from the city state and federal governments to military,: wealth is and has always been achieved at the expense of others, usually at their willing expense but the only source of money is other people.

Answer 3

It would be a waste of time and money. Two years is not enough time to fully train a member of the armed forces in their profession. So, the person doing this duty would be marking a "short-timer's calendar" for half their mandatory time.
Using it to increase the rolls at the Va hospitals is a nightmare. Until the law was changed in the Carter administration, all veterans reaching age 65 could receive global health care from the VA, whether or not they had service-connected conditions and diseases. That would have meant nearly 12 million veterans of World War Two entering the VA health care system when it was somewhat stretched already taking care of those from the Korean conflict and the Vietnam conflict.
A re-instatement of the draft was in a bill introduced last year in Congress by Congressman Charles Rangel of New York. But, that Member has an unemployment rate over 15% among draft-age males in his district. The military is not supposed to be some sort of Federal jobs program. It exists to defend the nation and the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
I served in the era of the draft and in the all-volunteer force. I prefer the latter and never want to see us return to the draft era again.

Answer 4

I think it only makes sense. I can't definitively tell you why, except that it seems, back when we had the draft, we had a lot more "good" men. Then, of course, only men were drafted, but I think it should be mandatory for ALL able young adults, once they reach 18 (and no more college deferments, please). Two years in any branch of the military would go a long way towards redirecting our youth to procedure, protocol, discipline, and respect (since so many of their parents seem unable to guide them). Don't count on them using the Veteran's hospitals and health care, though. Like all other government programs, the Veterans programs are foundering in a quagmire of incompetence, red tape, corruption, and lack of funding. But, anyway, my vote is hell, yeah, draft them all.

Answer 5

I've thought of this before but in the end it would bring too many weak and cowardly people that really don't want to be in. I think a better, more practical option, is to Make Boot Camp mandatory after high school and for drop outs. If they complete Boot camp then they can choose weather they want to continue on or if they want to go back to normal society. Boot Camp is tough and demands responsibility and can show the young just how tough it is to meet the minimal requirements to be an American Warrior. Schools, malls, stadiums, basically everywhere have all been and/or still are terroristic (foreign and domestic) targets. This country is under attack and we need our young to be prepared, with basic combat, medical and leadership skills to be able to handle things here while our brave service members handle things in other parts of the world.

Answer 6

Nope, not a good idea.

On the surface it sounds good.

But look at the numbers.

There are:

2 million 18 yr old males
2 million 18 yr old females
2 million 19 yr old males
2 million 19 yr old females

Thats 8 million members of the military.

You would need atleast another million NCO's and Officers to supervise them, and maybe more.

That gives us a 9 million person military.

The cost to house, feed, train and outfit that many people would be extremely high.

We don't have the military infrastructure for that many service members,

Neither the military bases or barracks.

We currently run about 260,000 people thru Basic training a year now, in all the services.

Imagine having to run 2 million every year thru Basic training.

Answer 7

I think its a good idea. A lot of countries do it, though the problem is our military would cease to be a professional military and become a conscript military. It would increase Veteran awareness and respect and it would increase leverage for VA benefits. It would also help with college tuition costs.
I think the commitment idea is great, but I think people should get the choice between the Military, Americorp or the Peace Corp...but they have to choose at least one or the government will choose for them based on the needs of either program.

Answer 8

Not so much military, but a 2 year requirement for civil service. I believe that for 2 years of service, 2 years of a state college tuition paid for. If you would want a private school, the going rate for a public institution would be forwarded to that private school. It gives an incentive for the youths of our fine country to serve and learn. Also helps teach responsibility and gives a sense of pride. Health care would be too expensive for only 2 years of service. Education incentives would fare better.

Answer 9

Why not national service? The Germans still have it to include social services with the elderly and disabled. You either do 14 months in the military or 18 months or so social service. It improves the number of care givers in the old folks homes and with an aging population it isn't a bad idea.

Answer 10

Two years of service to the Nation as someone mentioned would be cool.

Two years of active service not so much....It costs about $135K to get an airman to and through basic. That doesn't take into account his or her tech school. I had a crack baby for a troop a few years ago and I cannot tell you how much time and effort I spent getting her to perform basic hygiene and then the time I spent making sure she attended her mandatory discharge appointments. ( I had to drive her to a couple to ensure attendance). Not everybody is military worthy.