Posted on Sep 12, 2016
How does everyone feel about mandatory military service in America?
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I think this would strengthen the ties that bind Americans together as a nation.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 48
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I would like to see 18 months of Public Service, however I don't believe that service should be only military. It should cover everything from fixing roads and other public projects at the state and local level to forest service to picking up an EMT certification and supporting the local fire department. Military service could be one of the options, however it should be one option among many.
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SP5 Joel O'Brien
Well stated! Military service is not everyone's cup of tea. It wasn't for me. I did what was asked and said 'adios' when the time to separate arrived. Some folks can do 10-15-20 years of military service. Others can be beneficial in other ways.
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SSG (Join to see)
SSG Steven Mangus - Those that refuse service are forced to pay an additional 5% tax on all income for the remainder of their life.
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While it may seem like a good idea on the surface for instilling pride in one's country, and investing people into its defense, it is not always such a good idea. Not everyone is cut out for or compatible with the Armed Forces.
As a member of an all volunteer force I want someone who wants to be there to watch my back, not someone who is forced to be there. The motivations are entirely different. Someone who does not want to be in the military will likely not put forth his/her best efforts towards accomplishing the mission. Heck, we already have people who volunteer and don't put forth the required effort.
In the subject of retaining skill, why would you spend the time, money, effort, and resources on training someone who will only be in the service for a few years? Yes, there is the potential that someone who is forced into service will come to like it and adapt to the lifestyle, but in financially austere times, that is a big risk.
Bottom line, NOT a good idea.
As a member of an all volunteer force I want someone who wants to be there to watch my back, not someone who is forced to be there. The motivations are entirely different. Someone who does not want to be in the military will likely not put forth his/her best efforts towards accomplishing the mission. Heck, we already have people who volunteer and don't put forth the required effort.
In the subject of retaining skill, why would you spend the time, money, effort, and resources on training someone who will only be in the service for a few years? Yes, there is the potential that someone who is forced into service will come to like it and adapt to the lifestyle, but in financially austere times, that is a big risk.
Bottom line, NOT a good idea.
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PO3 Donald Murphy
SFC J Fullerton - No, the military is not a rehab place. That was not the intention of the original question. Obviously the people coming in to the military would be screened as they were for any other jaunt into the military. Someone who's NOT A CRIMINAL and perfect for the military in every way can turn out to be an abusive person or an alcoholic, correct? I saw (as an admin officer) tons of people "kicked out" for unsuitability, yet, they were "overly suitable" when recruited. So you really are not going to have "any worse" of an atmosphere than you do now.
Rehab? Well, to be fair, what do we do *NOW* with a suitable Airman who was overly qualified, recruited, assigned and now has a drinking problem? We send them to rehab, right? So as the machinery is already in place for it, why not use it? For example, I don't use the base doctors, but they are there if I need them. Whether I use them or not, they are there. So rather than scared straight which is verbal, why not take a gang-banger recruit and drop him/her head first into military service? Rehab would be there if needed, just like it was for us. Not everyone will need rehab. Most will change with the same tried and proven tools used on Gangland USA: hard work and change of scenery.
To be fair to your point, I just saw that used by the Marines last year as a recruiting point/tool ("you have nothing lined up so rather than flip burgers, join us") for one of our friend's sons. So sadly, we are our own worst enemy in that regard.
Rehab? Well, to be fair, what do we do *NOW* with a suitable Airman who was overly qualified, recruited, assigned and now has a drinking problem? We send them to rehab, right? So as the machinery is already in place for it, why not use it? For example, I don't use the base doctors, but they are there if I need them. Whether I use them or not, they are there. So rather than scared straight which is verbal, why not take a gang-banger recruit and drop him/her head first into military service? Rehab would be there if needed, just like it was for us. Not everyone will need rehab. Most will change with the same tried and proven tools used on Gangland USA: hard work and change of scenery.
To be fair to your point, I just saw that used by the Marines last year as a recruiting point/tool ("you have nothing lined up so rather than flip burgers, join us") for one of our friend's sons. So sadly, we are our own worst enemy in that regard.
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SFC J Fullerton
PO3 Donald Murphy - I get what you are saying, but we will just have to agree to disagree. SM's who met the eligibility standards then screw up become the military's problem. They did not inherit the problem knowingly, it was either concealed or came to fruition after entering the service. But the military can't be an offshoot of the Department of Corrections for criminals to serve out their sentences. Like I said, it would be an insult to everyone who volunteers to serve their country and believes Military Service to be an honorable profession. Society already has a perception of what type of people chose the military. Those that legitimately enlisted for honorable reasons will be stigmatized because society won't distinguish between the two. Besides, who would want to volunteer for the military if half of it were there instead of jail? Nobody volunteers for jail.
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SSgt Boyd Welch
I've seen draftees during Vietnam become "that guy" who rescued his fellow soldiers in a tight place and I've seen the Academy graduates who became the equivalent of a "latrine queen". Combat tests men and women. Some come out pure gold and others pure sh*t....
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C Marrone
I think if like SSG suggested it be along the lines of Public Service so there an option of choice for 36 months mandatory service to all. European countries as well as Israel do so up to 26 years old so they have an option of going before or after a higher education course
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Big fan Sir and think some form of military/national service should be compulsory.
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LTC (Join to see)
I would agree with that, especially the national service part, because as it has already been pointed out, not everyone is cut out for military service.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
National service, yes-- definitely. There's lots that people can do to serve. Everything from picking up trash on the side of the road to civilian government positions. Look on usajobs.gov and you will see that there are plenty of entry-level jobs for every skill and interest. There are even student internships and new graduate employment programs. It doesn't have to be military service.
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SP5 (Join to see)
SSG(P) (Join to see) - Some jobs may be on hold for a while, based on the recent exec order freezing most of the govr hiring. Be interesting to see just what categories, other than military, national defense, etc., get unfrozen.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
SP5 (Join to see) - Check out usajobs.com. The freeze is NOT government wide. There are still plenty of agencies/departments/etc. hiring.
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