Should military service be a requirement of citizenship?

Most Definitely, There are worse things than having to train some knot head how to tie his boots. Such as the knowledge you got some social reject off the Welfare line, and made something productive from that being. Like a high school drop-out, that the Army accepted, trained, provided guidance and purpose... that soldier made a career of the military and retired after 21 years of faithful duty. Yes I do believe that Service in one if the five branches should be a requirement, especially in this day and age of directionless kids and lackeys that haven't a prayer of going anywhere. I wrote the following a few years ago:



I AM -
By 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.

I saw a person of dark skin, asked him; “Are you an American?”
That person proudly said, “Yes, born in Atlanta”.
I said, “I will spill blood with you, to defend your rights”.

I greeted a person with clothing different from mine. I asked if he was American.
He vowed with a heavy accent, he would pass his citizenship test the next month.
I replied, “I vow to protect your beliefs and rights of religion, so long as I breathe.

I came upon an oriental family and asked if they were Americans. Head up proud, they replied, “Born and raised”. I said, “I will lay down my life beside you, defending your family’s freedom.

I met a person with a turban on his head, I extended my hand, he accepted.
I asked if he were born here, or from a far off land.
With a tear in his eye, pride in his heart he said he was proud to be a New Yorker.
I vowed to share the lives of other young American soldiers of many ethnicities with him, defending his freedom.

I met a group of people, not of this nation; they said they were allies and friends.
I vowed I would lay on the field of battle, spilling the charge of life with their soldiers.
Vowing to help defend their rights and religions against all who would oppose them.
So long as they believe in and practice, freedom of religion, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, of all peoples.

I met with my neighbors and bonded with them.
We agreed; so long as human rights are respected, both worked to defend against the forces of oppression and believe in liberty and justice for all, we would spill the blood of our compatriots to help protect and defend each other’s borders.
- The United States ARMY

I think so!!

It absolutely should. We allow any smuck to vote in this country without the least understanding of what it means to be a citizen. They scream about rights that they have actually never even read.

No individual should be required to serve. The beauty of the United State Armed Forces is the fact that we are an all volunteer army. However, we need to focus on restoring the pride for our country within the each person. Whenever this type of attitude exist there would be so many volunteers  who willing want to serve their country that we could then go back to just choosing the best candidates to make us the strongest and most prepared military in the world. God Bless the U.S.A.

No individual should be required to serve. The beauty of the United State Armed Forces is the fact that we are an all volunteer army. However, we need to focus on restoring the pride for our country within the each person. Whenever this type of attitude exist there would be so many volunteers  who willing want to serve their country that we could then go back to just choosing the best candidates to make us the strongest and most prepared military in the world. God Bless the U.S.A.

My answer is a respectful, but emphatic NO, for a number of reasons. 

First, you used the word "required" which is just a nice way of saying "compulsory" or "force".  At best such a system is Extortion, and at worst it is Slavery.

Second, though I am a believer in service, (I have 22 years of military service prior to my retirement, and nearly 20 years in Public Safety as a Emergency Communications Supervisor, and as a Firefighter-Fire Lieutenant/Paramedic.)  I am a firm believer that service should be voluntary. (see my first point)

Third, the Military is NOT the best place for everyone.  Some people simply don't belong there, while others talents are better utilized elsewhere.  Our draft in Vietnam proved that, particularly when one considers how many officers were "fragged" by their own men. "Throughout the course of the Vietnam War, fragging was reportedly
common. Cases have been documented of at least 230 American officers
killed by their own troops, and as many as 1,400 other officers' deaths
could not be explained.  Between 1970 and 1971 alone, there were 363 cases of "assault with explosive devices" against officers in Vietnam."

The flip side to that coin is that some people can be far more beneficial to society by utilizing their own special talents.  Consider if you will, what would have happened if people like Bill Gates, or Steve Jobs had been forced to "serve" during the formative years of their society changing endeavors?

People should be free to follow their own path.  It is best for individuals, for the Military, and for society. 

Lastly I'll leave you with this exchange between Milton Freedman and Gen Westmoreland regarding the Vietnam draft.

"In the course of his [General Westmoreland's] testimony, he made the
statement that he did not want to command an army of mercenaries. I
[Milton Friedman] stopped him and said, 'General, would you rather
command an army of slaves?' He drew himself up and said, 'I don't like
to hear our patriotic draftees referred to as slaves.' I replied, 'I
don't like to hear our patriotic volunteers referred to as
mercenaries.' But I went on to say, 'If they are mercenaries, then I,
sir, am a mercenary professor, and you, sir, are a mercenary general; we
are served by mercenary physicians, we use a mercenary lawyer, and we
get our meat from a mercenary butcher.' That was the last that we heard
from the general about mercenaries."

I agree with public service across the board, but with a 2 year limit instead of 4 years.  This should be long enough to provide them with some job and life skills and an appreciation of service to someone other than themselves.

I have a big reservation with it because I remember troops who were drafted of threatened to be and they eventually become a distraction and negative on the morale of others.   I do not want military haters besides me.

Milton Friedman had a great response to General Westmorland who advocated for the Draft during Vietnam....

"In the course of his [General Westmoreland's] testimony, he made the
statement that he did not want to command an army of mercenaries. I
[Milton Friedman] stopped him and said, 'General, would you rather
command an army of slaves?' He drew himself up and said, 'I don't like
to hear our patriotic draftees referred to as slaves.' I replied, 'I
don't like to hear our patriotic volunteers referred to as
mercenaries.' "

Service to our country should be a requirement. &nbsp;It doesn't need to be military. &nbsp;Two years serving in some capacity whether military, community service, peace corps, etc would go a long way in building an understanding and appreciation of the true value of our freedom. &nbsp;Graduate from high school and attend two years unselfish service, then off to college or into the workforce. &nbsp;I'll bet there would be less deadbeats and more willing to contribute. &nbsp;God Bless America!<div><br></div><div>Unfortunately though, with the ACLU, there could be less than honorable organizations with the sole purpose of undermining the integrety of selfless service, their right to exist and recruit. &nbsp;So Caution!!!</div>