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| Yes | 24% | 160 votes | Total: 666 votes | |
| No | 76% | 506 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesAs a former Vietnam era Veteran and United States Army Drill Instructor, I can almost assure you that in the not too distant future, the draft will be revived and for good reason. Today, more than anytime in the history of our nation, we are threatened by a variety of enemies vying to destroy us and our way of life.
We have Iran, North Korea, and the Islamic extremists lining up against us. The Taliban, Al Qaeda, dictators like Hugo Chavez and Raul Castro of Cuba. Osama Bin Laden is still a threat to our security and must be dealt with. China can never be trusted, nor can Russia which possesses the world's largest stockpile of weapons of mass destruction.
Like it or not, a broad and diverse military makes a nation powerful and respected. Its obvious that we have lost that respect in many parts of the world and this in itself, is extremely dangerous. It is also common knowledge that enlistments in our military are at an all time low.
How do we achieve this diversity? By drafting people from all socio-economic backgrounds, like we have successfully done in past wars. Unlike our current volunteer Army, the draft would give us a well rounded and stronger military, because we would have a huge pool of talent to select from overall. This would also make us much more capable and effective and would act as a deterrent for those quick to seize on what they perceive to be a limited, or weak military presence.
As a US Army Drill Instructor during the Vietnam conflict, I saw first hand how effective the mixture of draftees and enlisted personnel were in performing their duties, and their specific missions. I trained people that were from poor backgrounds, some of them being juvenile delinquents that had two options...jail or the military. Some were from a variety of other professions. Ex professional football players, business owners, college graduates with varying degrees and yes, the wealthy, sheltered types. In the end, they all performed admirably and I was especially proud to see the successful transition from civilian to a confident, self reliant, soldier, in a neat, action packed eight weeks of basic training.
Unfortunately, today, in comparison to the Vietnam era, we have raised a nation of soft, immature, and irresponsible young adults, that prefer a comfy, secure lifestyle, living at home with Mom and Dad. Patriotism and service to our country is not a priority, and war is better left to others that enlist voluntarily. The parents share some of the blame for this attitude, because they feel its better that someone else's sons or daughters fight and die, not their children. Can you imagine the outcome of World War II if we had this type of cavalier and protective attitude in regard to our nations defense.
Having lived through the Vietnam era, I like all rational human beings detest the horrors of war. I have lost many friends as a result of that conflict. The only comfort I glean from my experience is that I, like thousands of other 18 year old young men, stepped up to the plate and served with no regrets in the defense of my country. I wish I could feel the same committment from our young people today, should a real need for military service arise, but sadly I do not.
If we as American citizens choose to live in a country that affords us safety and freedom, we must realize that it sometimes comes with a terrible price. The only real deterrent to war or an attack on our nation, is to be fully prepared for it. The preparation begins with a strong and efficient military and that can only be acheived by tapping the diverse pool of talent America has to offer. The only viable solution to acheive that end, is to bring back the draft.
Learn more about this author, Joseph Yannuzzi Jr..
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No
In the United States there is an all volunteer military. No draft or forced service is in effect, and the nation is better served not to impose one. Not only can soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines claim to be volunteers, but the manner by which war is fought has changed. The use of a smaller more mobile force has created a military that is ready to be deployed and redeployed in eighteen hours time. Technology has advanced to a point where service members do not have to physically be on the battlefield. Nuclear weapons, a deterrent for war, can take down entire civilizations. The draft is simply not needed by the military, nor would it be correct to force the volunteer military to serve with heartless draftees. Calling all men ages 18 to 35, do not fear a draft!
With the volunteer system, military service members can truly have pride in their service. Pride is a key factor to creating a viable combat force. Disciplined service members are trained and given knowledge in special areas that require months, sometimes years, to develop. These highly specialized war fighters are crafted from the best candidates available, the top ten percent. They truly want to serve. Because they want to be in the military, service members serve their nation harder, longer, and stronger. This is their way of life, not just their job; their greatness should not be tarnished by a draft. As was made painfully obvious in Viet Nam, the majority of soldiers who caused problems were draftees. Typically, draftees do not want to serve so they do not serve in nearly the same manner as volunteers. It is true that some very good soldiers were made by the draft (this man has served with several former draftee "old timers" who are truly gifted soldiers, great leaders, and great men), but the majority of the draftees were less than what the military has come to expect.
The current make-up of the military with its small modular Brigade Combat Teams and amazing technology have made the large divisions and countless regiments unnecessary. The military is now lighter, faster, and better equipped than the military of any previous generation. Smart bombs, precision guided laser missiles, Special Operations Teams, Stealth Aircraft, and cruise missiles make war a very different challenge. Mass formations of large divisions would not only be ineffective against the two largest and best equipped enemies of this nation, but they would also be disastrous when they are destroyed by the enemies' new weapons systems. The days of Patton and his mighty 3rd Army marching across Europe are long over. Today's wars are fought in unorthodox methods using guerrilla tactics. Special Operations Soldiers are the finest in the world and they are equally as lethal as they are specialized. These silent professionals are capable of taking on forces many times their size in a sustained fight. Protective equipment like Interceptor body armor and Kevlar helmets have greatly decreased the number of casualties experienced on the battlefield. Nuclear weapons make global war unlikely, so there is no need to sustain more than three fronts with the active military.
The Reserves and National Guard have both proved themselves to be viable weapons in their own right, and should be relied upon. It is not one weekend a month and two weeks a summer any longer. These soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines must remember that they are indeed in the military, and will be counted on just like their active duty counterparts.
If the political types truly feel that there must be a draft, it must not be segregated to men, and it must not be a draft of chance. If the draft must return, all able bodied Americans should serve upon completion of High School. After two years they may have the opportunity to stay in, or get out and go to college. They will be provided a college education for free at state schools, or paid an equal sum as tuition reimbursement toward a private college. Make this the prerequisite to voting. Creating a draft like this would give Americans an understanding of what military personnel experience, and how they view the world. This draft is the only good solution, but even this is not great. In the end, no draft is needed. Let the soldiers serve, do not make them baby sitters.
Learn more about this author, Many A Tall Tale.
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