Posted on Jan 13, 2014
Should military service be a requirement of citizenship?
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I know Israel has some sort of requirement. I was wondering we in the military thought. It is my opinion, that a two year requirement would be beneficial on many fronts. I think the average citizen would pay more attention to the politics of our nation, and therefore be more educated on who they vote for. What are your thoughts?
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Military service
Military service
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 72
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I answer with a strong NO.<div><br></div><div>Individuals do not owe the government anything at birth and freedom means being free not to do things. Everything we require of an individual makes them less free.</div>
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PFC Eric Minchey
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." - Ronald Reagan.
"To be born free is an accident. To live free is a privilege. To die free is a responsibility."- Brig. General James Sehorn.
Need I say more?
"To be born free is an accident. To live free is a privilege. To die free is a responsibility."- Brig. General James Sehorn.
Need I say more?
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LTC (Join to see)
SSG Benavidez,
The owing of income taxes is a creation of man, therefore, it is not natural law and nothing is truly owed. Our founding fathers did not write income taxes into the Constitution. The income tax was first enacted on 1862 as a means to fund the Federal Civil War effort. Since income taxes were not written into the Constitution I do not support having to pay them as it seems to contradict the spirit of the Constitution. Similarly, I agree with Major Miller. Making military service mandatory is another contradiction to the spirit of the Constitution, the basis of which is freedom from government and the power of the people to limit their government as they see fit.
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A good intent. But generally a BAD idea. Not everyone is suited to the military. I've known a lot of great Americans who've never been in uniform. Yet they serve our nation and their communities in the ways they can do best. I'm all for some sort of national service requirement. But I think defining it as solely military service is a mistake. I also believe it's a bit egotistical for us as soldiers to view it that way. I share GEN McChrystal's opinion.
The Franklin Project is a new venture by the Aspen Institute to marshal the best case for a voluntary civilian counterpart to military service in the United ...
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CW2 Joseph Evans
Agreed, <div><h1 class="quoteText" style="margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;">“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.” ― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/77989.Heraclitus" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Heraclitus</a></h1></div><div><br></div><div>And that is among a force of volunteers. Still, the threat of mandatory service, the draft, made politicians wary of war for the sake of their sons. Of course, by the 60's and Vietnam, "Fortunate Sons" managed to find ways to avoid the brunt of it.</div><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/ [login to see] p5/77989.jpg"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/77989.Heraclitus">Heraclitus</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">Author of Fragments, The Art and Thought of Heraclitus, The Cosmic Fragments, Dell'origine, Heraclitus of Ephesus, Kırık Taşlar, Homeric Problems, جدل الحب والحرب, Heraclitus, and The Art and Thought ...</div></div><div style="clear:both"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>
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SFC (Join to see)
I am a volunteer fireman, and EMT in my community. I agree there are many options to serve. I just ask, as it came up in conversation the other day.
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Why restrict it to *male* citizens?? If military service is going to be required, it should be required across the board.<br><br>But to answer the original question, public service, yes, mandatory military service, HELL NO! The military should be composed of those who want to be there. 'Draftees' in this day and age will have horrible attitudes.
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1stSgt (Join to see)
This was my stance on this subject as well. Someone had brought this up and you hit it right on the head in my opinion, we want people who want to be here...
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MSgt (Join to see)
In the same respect, there are alot of individuals who have volunteered who dont deserve to be here as well...
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SrA (Join to see)
I think there is much to recommend the idea that some form of service be required to vote. The book Starship Troopers touched on this and I think it's brilliant. The division between citizen and civilian is worth drawing but I think the only division of rights I would make is the right to vote. Freedom of speech, search and seizure, trial by jury etc. etc. applicable for both citizens and civilians, but voting would require a greater commitment than just being born and breathing.
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Strong NO on my part.
BLUF: degradation of military readiness outweigh the social benefits of the draft.
BLUF: degradation of military readiness outweigh the social benefits of the draft.
Israel is the ideal example, but if you have to look for a counterpoint, look no further than South Korea.
Israel, on one hand, has the dubious advantage of being surrounded by active conflict as a country. Thus, their citizens see first-hand the reason for a standing military, and the importance of serving.
South Korea, on the other hand, is experiencing a degradation of the quality of their military; even though the country is still technically at war, one can observe that their society is generally shifting away from military readiness as a priority, moving instead towards the development of pop culture, economic growth, and a general explosion of capitalism.
South Korea, on the other hand, is experiencing a degradation of the quality of their military; even though the country is still technically at war, one can observe that their society is generally shifting away from military readiness as a priority, moving instead towards the development of pop culture, economic growth, and a general explosion of capitalism.
You can see the effects that this shift has had on the military, as many senior officers in the SKorea military are lamenting that they have done "too good" of a job, and are now dealing with a generation that have never seen war, the reality of the proximity of the NKorean threat, and would prefer to go to concerts, enjoy their youth, and quite simply NOT serve for two years in cold barracks, marching, being verbally abused, being away from home, and serving on a mission that holds little meaning to them today. These boys are NOT soldiers, period, and just not meant to serve as such - and, unfortunately due to the mandatory service requirement, make up a large part of the SKorean military.
If you need proof, look closely at the general SKorean populace's reaction to the rhetoric and threats that came from NKorea when Kim Jong Un came to power. They all went about their business, treating the threats of invasion and total obliteration from NKorea as everyday occurrence. Not exactly a people in touch with the importance of military readiness and service.
If you need proof, look closely at the general SKorean populace's reaction to the rhetoric and threats that came from NKorea when Kim Jong Un came to power. They all went about their business, treating the threats of invasion and total obliteration from NKorea as everyday occurrence. Not exactly a people in touch with the importance of military readiness and service.
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Some of the people who are in SHOULDNT be! The last thing I want is to force a bunch of people in who are going to be nothing but problems. The military should be the best of those who have the desire to serve.
Think about the jobs we have. Not everyone should be trusted to drive a tank, push medications, handle money (especially mine), or point weapons at people.
The last thing I want to do is FORCE someone to do something they don't have any business doing in the first place.
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SFC Terry Wilcox
I met with the youth of today.
They were angry, misunderstood, Had multi colored hair and overly pierced bodies.
I offered them direction, someone to notice them and a feeling of belonging.
I gave them purpose, honor and justice.
But most of all, I gave them understanding. ["I" being the American Uniformed Services]
Now to some, this means little to nothing, but to a lost, directionless, undereducated young person... the world opens up, and instead of straining the economy with their needs (food stamps via what ever means, monetary support, etc.) we could have a skilled laborer, dutiful citizen, that's supporting America's economy, rather than draining the economy, leaving a greater percentage of funds to support those really in need... such as those that physically cannot work, our elderly, and our returning wounded veterans.
They were angry, misunderstood, Had multi colored hair and overly pierced bodies.
I offered them direction, someone to notice them and a feeling of belonging.
I gave them purpose, honor and justice.
But most of all, I gave them understanding. ["I" being the American Uniformed Services]
Now to some, this means little to nothing, but to a lost, directionless, undereducated young person... the world opens up, and instead of straining the economy with their needs (food stamps via what ever means, monetary support, etc.) we could have a skilled laborer, dutiful citizen, that's supporting America's economy, rather than draining the economy, leaving a greater percentage of funds to support those really in need... such as those that physically cannot work, our elderly, and our returning wounded veterans.
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We need those willing to serve, not required to serve. That desire to serve within a person through training produces a different caliber of man vs somebody following the herd because they have to, not want to. There are exceptions to this but few.
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SSG (Join to see)
So very true Staff Sergeant. If a person does not want to serve, don't force them. We only need to have those who WANT to be serving our Country.
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In theory it sounds great because freedom would be enjoyed by those who have experienced the cost of protecting it. The reality is that we don't have the need of the manpower nor the resources to increase the military force to the size that it would take to train and equip every single person of military age.
Also it would destroy American life by creating two different classes of citizens in this country those that have rights and those that don't. Just because a person serves or has served does not meant that they will suddenly have more interest in the leadership of this country.
Also it would destroy American life by creating two different classes of citizens in this country those that have rights and those that don't. Just because a person serves or has served does not meant that they will suddenly have more interest in the leadership of this country.
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MSgt Manuel Diaz
In theory yes; however in practice no. Some individuals are not designed for military service and would be penalized because they were merely being themselves. Others would be magnificent for military service. For most it would be a great way to grow up and find a notch in life to grow from.
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I do agree that there should be some sort of government service,
not just military I know to many kids that could never make it in the military,
but all government is a different story.
It can be a two year stent and could be you work in an office pushing
papers at the State Department or the EPA or NOAA, right down to your local mayor’s
township offices., set up a standard test like the ASVAB, for all the ones that
do not want to go military and depending on how they test is what jobs they can
pick from. Also like the military some of the work they do can be transferred
into college credits not much as we all know, but some.
I feel this would work to help kids today get a better
understanding of the government. I have seen to many kids that don’t even know
what the government does. (ok at time I can see that also but for different
reasons) When I first got off active duty I went to college and one of the
classes I took was Government. I was 24 at the time with 18-19 year olds right
out of high school, half of them were failing the class they could not even
tell you what are the 3 branches of our government. They all had taken government
in high school.
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1LT (Join to see)
You are kind of describing the system that Austria has. Required service for 2 years, with a civilian option for those not interested in the military. I'd agree on this front. I think everyone should at least attend Basic, I think the lessons, and morals you learn are useful whether you decide to stay in or not. For those who couldn't hack it, create a secondary, civilian option. I would be all for a system like this.
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SFC Terry Wilcox
Way back in 1964, there was a 17 yr old drop-out... had little interest in anything, and knowledge of even less. He had no direction, no interests, other than sitting around and watching TV (what few channels we had back then). I was introduced to the military, rather forcibly, and the MAN that returned, from the Army's Basic Training, was let's say, far better, than the BOY that left. I retired after 21 years of service, and two tours in Vietnam.
- Also - I'd try to remember history, lest we forget, and have to REPEAT!
Where was our military strength when we were attacked in 1941?
"Passive!"
We rebuilt rather quickly, and we did win the war... eventually (at the cost of how many good men and women?). Because we had a greater industrial complex.
Had there been a different military mind set, might the Japanese have forgone the idea of attacking a "Sleeping Giant"?
I'd stick with the draft, if for no other reason than to build American character into our youth, and a greater citizenry.
- Also - I'd try to remember history, lest we forget, and have to REPEAT!
Where was our military strength when we were attacked in 1941?
"Passive!"
We rebuilt rather quickly, and we did win the war... eventually (at the cost of how many good men and women?). Because we had a greater industrial complex.
Had there been a different military mind set, might the Japanese have forgone the idea of attacking a "Sleeping Giant"?
I'd stick with the draft, if for no other reason than to build American character into our youth, and a greater citizenry.
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That would make everyone Voluntold.
I disagree on two principles.
First, there's a lot to be said for the volunteer military. Everyone wants to be there. Are there legitimate questions about the stratification and whether or not certain elements of our society serve? Yes. However, incumbent in our Freedoms for which we serve should be the freedom not to serve.
Second, logistically that's a lot for TRADOC to handle. Plus, where would they serve? Not enough slots.
I disagree on two principles.
First, there's a lot to be said for the volunteer military. Everyone wants to be there. Are there legitimate questions about the stratification and whether or not certain elements of our society serve? Yes. However, incumbent in our Freedoms for which we serve should be the freedom not to serve.
Second, logistically that's a lot for TRADOC to handle. Plus, where would they serve? Not enough slots.
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SSG (Join to see)
This would not apply to people that are already citizens. If you want to become a citizen, then prove your loyalty and be a contributing member of society and earn the benefits that go along with it. A 6 year contract would give them enough skills and the time required to become a citizen.
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NO. Only because I do not want resentful troops. I remember when the draft was going and the consequences or that.
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