National Service Should Replace the Draft

National Service Should Replace the Draft

In the wake of September 11 and the occupation of Iraq, The United States military faces a struggle of retaining manpower and bridging defensive gaps. Active-duty soldiers have been forced into longer assignments while families wait patiently at home for their loved ones to return, only to once again, bid them farewell for another demanding fulfillment of duty. In terms of numbers, the United States forces have been stretched to the limit, and continue to search for new ways to increase military enlistment.

Obviously, national service would be costly and raises a host of practical and logistical problems. For example, given that between 3 and 4 million Americans turn 18 each year, a full-fledged program might easily cost $50 billion a year, including living expenses, supervisory costs, and G.I. Bill-style benefits for additional education and training.

Participants would have to be properly trained and supervised. They would need to do real jobs, not make-work. Serious problems with discipline, drug and alcohol abuse, criminal behavior, and shoddy work would be inevitable. It would require the kind of well-planned, efficient government organization that most Americans consider highly doubtful if not impossible.

As the possibility of the United States as a weakened superpower penetrates both government and society, debate over possible resolutions to this looming problem has caused a stir among military and civilians alike. Perhaps the most controversial of these is the reinstatement of military draft.

It has been nearly thirty years since the United States has eliminated military drafting after the Vietnam War. Public support for government and military officials declined heavily during the war as draft calls intensified, taking a severe toll on the morale of both the country and those drafted soldiers off in battle. "The opposition was manifested in a variety of ways: …sit-ins at selective service offices, the burning of draft cards, demonstrations on college campuses, and weddings to take advantage of marital deferments." As the Vietnam War ended, the United States realized the ineffectiveness of its forced military participation, and the draft was lifted.

Since then, the country has operated on an All-Volunteer Force and has continued to gain both international power and public support. As some would argue, the U.S. military has rebuilt its strength and success based on this freer force of military enlisted. According to former Secretary of the Army, Louis Caldera, "today's all-volunteer military recruits only motivated, trainable people who, by definition, have other options but who choose to stay in the military because they find satisfaction in serving their country."

However, it remains that the strain on military troops grows larger and larger