Is it time for America to bring back the draft?

[lucas80]

Interesting article in the October 24 issue of the Economist about how the Army is struggling to meet recruiting goals. The article goes in depth to examine who is volunteering these days. Hint, they are not white, middle class or above, and college educated. The military is now fighting for a smaller and smaller pool of eligible/willing volunteers as the economy improves.
Noted in the article is the overall flabbiness of American youth these days, and how so many are precluded from military service due to a lack of physical fitness, tattoos, and a criminal past. We as a nation spend a large amount of money trying to recruit the dwindling pool into the military.
Would you be for a military draft if the services were structured around a professional cadre of non-coms and officers? Would we be better served increasing the pay and benefits of this professional cadre to entice the best to stay in the military? Should there be stringent rules to keep people from avoiding the draft such as forced alternatives like Teach For America? You say your left clavicle is 1/4 inch above your right and you can't serve in the military, so go teach high school in an inner city.
http://www.economist.com/news/unite...widened-gulf-between-most-americans-and-armed

 

[The Tradition]

There used to be a time when a troubled young man was given a choice by the judge: join the Army or go to jail.

Now days the Army won't accept this individual.

When we had the draft, do you really think they would have excluded people for freaking tattoos? Hell, everybody would have run to the tattoo parlor as soon as they turned 18 years old.

And trust me, the fatties will lose the weight in boot camp. Excluding them is horsecrap, too.

 

[KitingHigh]

I think everyone 18 or older should be allowed an ice cold draft beer.

 

[naturalmwa]

I think everyone 18 or older should be allowed an ice cold draft beer.

I've often thought we should tie this to graduating high school. Stay in school if you want to drink.

 

[moral_victory]

The best thing the draft does is put a wide base of people's skin in the game, and increases anti-war sentiment, or potentially sparks an anti-war movement. So I would doubt the MIC would want a draft.

 

[The Tradition]

I've often thought we should tie this to graduating high school. Stay in school if you want to drink.

So, if you graduate High School when you're 14, it's party time?

 

[KitingHigh]

So, if you graduate High School when you're 14, it's party time?

Works for me. That deserves a celebration.

 

[BondHawk]

Interesting article in the October 24 issue of the Economist about how the Army is struggling to meet recruiting goals. The article goes in depth to examine who is volunteering these days. Hint, they are not white, middle class or above, and college educated. The military is now fighting for a smaller and smaller pool of eligible/willing volunteers as the economy improves.

Whoa whoa whoa....what's this about the economy improving?

 

[MemorialRedWarrior]

Absolutely not, that is one of the very worst things they could ever do. Whom do you choose to go? How does this not increase anti-war sentiment? What exactly do they need the troops for?

 

[naturalmwa]

So, if you graduate High School when you're 14, it's party time?

Maybe. I prefer to make policy based on the rule, not the exception. I trust law writers are clever enough to write a law that legalizes alcohol for any graduate over 18 if that's the standard we like best.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

No to involuntary servitude.

Period.

OTOH, if we wanted to go the route of providing incentives for a period of public service, I might get on board. But there would have to be non-military options that got the same incentives.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Absolutely not, that is one of the very worst things they could ever do. Whom do you choose to go? How does this not increase anti-war sentiment? What exactly do they need the troops for?

Increasing anti-war sentiment is one of the good things about this idea. But I fear that would be outweighed by making it even easier to go to war. Not that there seems to be any hesitation or inertia on that score these days.

 

[naturalmwa]

Absolutely not, that is one of the very worst things they could ever do. Whom do you choose to go? How does this not increase anti-war sentiment? What exactly do they need the troops for?

Increasing anti war sentiment is the best reason for a draft in my opinion. It should be the case that the President can't send troops outside of our borders without congressional approval. And anytime congress approves, a draft is automatically started.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Tatoos?

And why would we prohibit criminals from joining up? For some, it could help them turn around. For the rest, it could be a good way of getting rid of them.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Increasing anti war sentiment is the best reason for a draft in my opinion. It should be the case that the President can't send troops outside of our borders without congressional approval. And anytime congress approves, a draft is automatically started.

And none of this open-ended authorization to use force crap, either.

 

[MemorialRedWarrior]

Increasing anti war sentiment is the best reason for a draft in my opinion. It should be the case that the President can't send troops outside of our borders without congressional approval. And anytime congress approves, a draft is automatically started.

I do not think that is how the Pentagon and the White House like to approach these situations. They are not going to work against their own interests.

 

[HallofFame]

I wouldn't be a very high pick. Plus I don't think we have fought an honorable war since WW2. And with the new drones we can just bomb people from a trailer in Arkansas so fewer troops are needed.

 

[HawktimusPrime]

Increasing anti war sentiment is the best reason for a draft in my opinion. It should be the case that the President can't send troops outside of our borders without congressional approval. And anytime congress approves, a draft is automatically started.

Yeah that's it Natural, that would change everything for the better. Please further explain how this would improve things if you would.

 

[moral_victory]

I wouldn't be a very high pick. Plus I don't think we have fought an honorable war since WW2. And with the new drones we can just bomb people from a trailer in Arkansas so fewer troops are needed.

With the 46,598,265th pick in the military draft the United States Coast Guard selects HallofFame.

 

[HallofFame]

With the 46,598,265th pick in the military draft the United States Coast Guard selects HallofFame.

Shit

 

[naturalmwa]

I do not think that is how the Pentagon and the White House like to approach these situations. They are not going to work against their own interests.

We know what is. We are discussing what we think should be.

 

[linkshero]

Interesting article in the October 24 issue of the Economist about how the Army is struggling to meet recruiting goals. The article goes in depth to examine who is volunteering these days. Hint, they are not white, middle class or above, and college educated. The military is now fighting for a smaller and smaller pool of eligible/willing volunteers as the economy improves.
Noted in the article is the overall flabbiness of American youth these days, and how so many are precluded from military service due to a lack of physical fitness, tattoos, and a criminal past. We as a nation spend a large amount of money trying to recruit the dwindling pool into the military.
Would you be for a military draft if the services were structured around a professional cadre of non-coms and officers? Would we be better served increasing the pay and benefits of this professional cadre to entice the best to stay in the military? Should there be stringent rules to keep people from avoiding the draft such as forced alternatives like Teach For America? You say your left clavicle is 1/4 inch above your right and you can't serve in the military, so go teach high school in an inner city.
http://www.economist.com/news/unite...widened-gulf-between-most-americans-and-armed

I had no idea tattoos precluded you from straight enlistment. I honestly don't think it does.

I think the reason they are having issues, is because if you make EOD, or something well paying, the pay has a pretty big upside. But if you don't, you are probably looking at about an average of $11.00 an hour for the next 4 years.

 

[The Tradition]

Shit

The Coast Guard isn't so bad. You'll probably work in an office building in Miami.

 

[naturalmwa]

Yeah that's it Natural, that would change everything for the better. Please further explain how this would improve things if you would.

It makes us all stake holders and increases huddles for deployment. Congress would have to affirm force knowing their voters would pay the price. War today is far too cheap.

 

[The Tradition]

I had no idea tattoos precluded you from straight enlistment. I honestly don't think it does.
.

http://www.beforejoiningthemilitary.com/military-tattoo-policy-and-joining-the-military/

 

[HawktimusPrime]

It makes us all stake holders and increases huddles for deployment. Congress would have to affirm force knowing their voters would pay the price. War today is far too cheap.

Madness. Good trolling, though to mad to be taken seriously.

 

[linkshero]

http://www.beforejoiningthemilitary.com/military-tattoo-policy-and-joining-the-military/

So head, neck, and sleeves would probably be an issue. That and the swastika. Otherwise, if it's not inflammatory, or can be covered up, a non issue. I'm guessing that is not really a major reason.

 

[moral_victory]

Madness. Good trolling, though to mad to be taken seriously.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I do not think that is how the Pentagon and the White House like to approach these situations. They are not going to work against their own interests.

Pointing up yet again why it's so important to get money out of politics and return to some semblance of democracy.

There simply should not be a difference between what the Pentagon and WH want, on one hand, and what the people want, on the other.

 

[HawktimusPrime]

Pointing up yet again why it's so important to get money out of politics and return to some semblance of democracy.

There simply should not be a difference between what the Pentagon and WH want, on one hand, and what the people want, on the other.

Emperor Palpatine is running the show Parser, the Empire must expand.

 

[HawktimusPrime]

Eh?, Eh? and another eh?

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

It makes us all stake holders and increases huddles for deployment. Congress would have to affirm force knowing their voters would pay the price. War today is far too cheap.

Heck, we just fight our wars off the books, then borrow to cover this "unexplained" shortfall - and blame it on entitlements.

It's all good. The voters never catch on.

 

[strummingram]

That will never happen again. The institutions that profit from using America's military learned some very valuable lessons with the draft and Vietnam. They won't make those mistakes again.

 

[SSG T]

While I agree with the concept that it put more people's skin in the game and would increase the possibility of not using the military the way it's currently used, I'd say no to a draft.

There are enough people in right now that allegedly want to be in that are pains in the ass. I can't imagine, given the current social climate, how we would deal with a couple hundred thousand that don't want to be in the military.

Once I retire in a couple of years, have at it. I won't have to deal with the even bigger idiot Privates by then.

 

[strummingram]

I'd actually love to see the all-volunteer US military experience an unprecedented drop in new members. That would be awesome for the entire human race! The draft is far too risky for their profit margin to flourish. It's hard to have perpetual war when half the population is demonstrating against it. The draft is what basically ended the Vietnam War.

 

[HallofFame]

wait I thought yesterday we decided that India was going to fight our wars for us.

 

[Hawkeyenuts66]

Here is a simple question, if WWIII every happens, which ones here would voluntarily enlist besides me? Or re-enlist in my case.

 

[strummingram]

Here is a simple question, if WWIII every happens, which ones here would voluntarily enlist besides me? Or re-enlist in my case.

3rd time will be a charm in that case. It's going to be interesting to watch regiments of soldiers stopping ICBMs.

 

[SSG T]

Here is a simple question, if WWIII every happens, which ones here would voluntarily enlist besides me? Or re-enlist in my case.

Re-enlist? Once I'm out? Me? Hell no.

 

[lucas80]

While I agree with the concept that it put more people's skin in the game and would increase the possibility of not using the military the way it's currently used, I'd say no to a draft.

There are enough people in right now that allegedly want to be in that are pains in the ass. I can't imagine, given the current social climate, how we would deal with a couple hundred thousand that don't want to be in the military.

Once I retire in a couple of years, have at it. I won't have to deal with the even bigger idiot Privates by then.

Thank you for joining the conversation. You have a lot of real experience the average poster does not. Do you worry about the trends in recruiting?