Mandatory military service in the U.S.?

[fdiron]

Saw some people in another post discussing mandatory military service in the U.S.  I do think that the military would benefit from getting people from different backgrounds.  However, I don't think everyone is cut out for military service.  When you rely soley on conscripts rather than volunteers, morale does tend to drop.  So while the enlisted ranks would be filled with brighter, more intelligent, more athletic soldiers (basing this on the fact that most people join the military for college tuition, those with scholarships don't enlist), the simple fact that they were forced to join the military would be enough to discourage them from dedicating themselves.  

Any opinions?

[Tumor]

Brighter, more intelligent enlistee's because of the draft?  Pretty broad brush stroke there.  College tuition benefits are only one "small" part of the many benefits of the military.  Not ~that many~ people go to college on scholarships anyway.

No... we absolutely don't need (or for we who serve) want to see the draft.  It's hard enough to boot losers out already.  Besides that you are right.. the vast majority of folks are NOT cut out for any branch of military service.

[Innominate]

A volunteer military gives them much more flexibility.  It's much easier to send volunteers into war than it is to force it onto people.

[Leslie]

Imo, a modern war would be a tech war mostly.  Heck, I bet the military has its eyes on some of you AH players.

Les


PS- Don't draft me, I'm 44 and a Bohemian artist.

[gofaster]

Originally posted by Leslie (and the Department of Defense prior to the Vietnam War)
Imo, a modern war would be a tech war mostly.

[Monk]

Won't work.  Mandatory Govt. service would work better. Caring for the elderly, or better yet, working at a Veterans Hospital.........That will wake ya up.

[miko2d]

Leslie: Imo, a modern war would be a tech war mostly.
 Only if we are carefull enough to attack much weaker countries at the right moment.

 Mandatory Govt. service would work better. Caring for the elderly, or better yet, working at a Veterans Hospital.........That will wake ya up.
 Yea. I can see that.
Judge: You, low-life scum. I can put you in jail for ten years or you can enroll into service to abuse, er, care for elderly or sick veretans.
Scumbag: I enroll!
Sick veterans and elderly: Oh, s@#t!

 Not everyone is fit for military. How come everyone is fit to make political decisions with military implications? You are privileged to vote, you should be responcible for results.

 miko

[Wlfgng]

tech wars are very limited in scope.
to win and take territory you must put troops on the ground, low tech slugging it out down and dirty.
ugly but necessary.

[Greese]

I'm ready to be drafted....  As soon as there's a spot in the military for a deaf-eared soldier.

I have challenged a few recruiters to come up with something I could do, and promised them I would sign up in return.  All came back negative.  I think one of them found me a national guard job truck driving or something like that...

Out of High School, I qualified for the Navy nuclear program.  Only thing that kept me out was the ear.  Darnit.

On the other hand, I have often been asked, that if given the opportunity of having the bad ear fixed, would I?  
I wouldn't.  I like it.  It has it's disadvantages, but I like the advantages also.

[Leslie]

Meant no offense Gofaster and Monk.  

The point I was trying to make is, the military is only interested in college graduates nowadays, due to the high technology weapon systems employed, among other things.

They want people who can do the job at hand.  Mandatory service of any kind would be akin to grooming people at an early age to fit a certain profile or occupation.  One's personality and abilities must be taken into account.  Whether it is good or bad, it's not freedom.

  I've not served in the military, but my Dad and brother did.  My Dad was in the Signal Corps during WWII, and my brother was a scientist for NASA  over 35 years.  He mentioned seeing films of tanks firing laser beams out the barrels back in the 60s, like in science fiction movies...only real.  How much of this sort of thing is out there, we may never know.  I hope we never find out.

Les

[2Slow]

Hmmm...how about mandatory Federal Service?  If you want the franchise, then you must demonstrate social responsibility.  No Federal Service, no vote, no political office.  No one would be turned away for any reason.  If you are quadraplegic, then the Federal Service Administration must find something usefull you can do for two years.

[Elfenwolf]

I am absolutely opposed to a military draft on virtually EVERY level you can imagine. As a part of the last group of draftees I can guarantee you that the people you draft will be unwilling, uninspired and basically unqualified. Brighter? More motivated? Draftees? You're talking out yer arse FdIron, the quality of military people rose dramatically once we abolished the draft.

You guys think there's growing opposition to an Iraq war now? Start a draft and let us fight over there for a couple of years and THEN see what the American public thinks about having the body bags of draftees flying home every day.

I am amazed this would even be considered by some of you people. How in the Hell can you even consider forcing people to fight an undeclared, arguably illegal war for you? Go fight it yourselves. Fuggin unbelievable- This is absolutely the worst idea anyone has ever suggested on these bbs.

[Monk]

Got to earn your right to vote;)  Turn 18, your choice, do a quick term in the the Military or Civil service. That's what I was trying to say.

Have to agree with Elfenwolf.  Draft would never work, just looking for trouble.

[midnight Target]

I think our Founding Fathers would be spinning in their graves over this one.

[john9001]

""mandatory Federal Service""...cool , i volunteer to be a senator or at least a GS15