Would you support mandatory military service for citizens once they turn 18?

I agree everyone should serve starting at 18 years of age for two years.
But not like the old draft, no exemptions every male and female in the country.
They should take the ASVAB and physical and back ground checks. Then be placed
In a job military or civil service as qualified and needed by the government.
Then the government should provide funding for two years of college or trade school at a state school.

SFC Ron Peck - When I joined the Regular Army in 1962, I was 17.5 years ols, my parents had to sign for me. There were still military serial numbers, I still remember mine. The SN never changed but the two letter prefix did. I started with RA, Regular Army, volunteer 3-6 year commitment, That changed to ER Enlisted Reserve, when I ETS'd, then I joined the Air National Guard that changed to AF, The Air Force only had 1 code, The Army had 4 RA, U, draftee, AR Army Reserve, and NG National Guard. I was a recruiter, but I don't remember all thee codes for other services MC was Marine, I don't know if their reserves had a separate code or not. I agree that there should not be exemptions for schooling or "critical skills". I took military science courses in high school. I think the military, or various community service jobs should be required except for severely handicapped individuals. While in the community service pool, schooling should be offered free of charge. If the individual saw merit to staying in community service over two years, schooling should be paid as long as they stayed in the program. When they graduated they should have a fast track to management or full time employment with the community service branch they served in. Joining the military should have the advantage of accredited apprenticeship for civilian skills in law enforcement, construction trade crafts, medical,and operating engineers. Lets give our young people incentive to serve and learn.

PO1 Jeff Doan - I'm one of the old dogs that started my service when the military had just transitioned from draft to volunteer. I remember we had people that we called career Spec 4s. These were guys that were drafted and stayed in they had an MOS but didn't work in it. They were just not that motivated. So they wound up being the unit Gofer or they were on KP, police call and CQ runner all the time. They were like the 1SG's puppy dog. This was back when there really wasn't a QMP process. I remember one guy that had been in for 14 years and had no plans of ever going past E-4. He was happy going to the Arms room and cleaning weapons or the Motor Pool and doing maintenance, or waxing the floors in the barracks. So I believe almost anyone can serve. They might not be officer material or Ranger/Seals but they can serve and earn their keep instead of sucking at the government teet as a civilian.

I totally agree with this idea. We can no longer depend entirely on the volunteer system to maintain our forces. Having a reserve force to pull into active duty (if needed) is the best way to go. We must face the fact that there are a lot of bad guys out there who hate us. America can and will be strong as long as we maintain a strong military.

CPT (Join to see) - I would disagree given the denotation of the word compulsory, which means according to law. There are a lot of things we do on a daily basis which are compulsory such as obeying speed limits. Doing so does not make anyone a slave.

compulsory |kəmˈpəlsərē|
adjective
required by law or a rule; obligatory: compulsory military service | it was compulsory to attend Mass.

You can use whatever word that you like but if "compulsory" involves forcing people to work against their will then we no longer live in a free society. A better term would be involuntary servitude which is illegal according to the 13th Amendment. There are times for a mandatory service, like during the Civil War or WWII. However, this should never be done during times of peace or when there are low levels of conflict. I often here people argue that this will make the younger generation have pride in their country. This no doubt would be true for many people, but for many others they would build a resentment to their country. If you need proof just look at the different reactions from the Vietnam vets. One last point is this. What happens if someone refuses to serve? Then what? Do we throw them in jail, seize their property and wealth, banish them, or detain them and force them to serve? My point is if they refuse then our government will have to physically punish them in some manner. Again this is an act of unfree societies, not free ones.

CPT (Join to see) - I think you have grossly misunderstood my point. By compulsory federal service, I mean an incentivized term of service to one's country. For example reduced college tuition, tuition assistance provisions, tax incentives, preferential hiring and/or OML placement for employment, things of that nature in exchange for having completed 21-24 months (or 3 to 4 years) of federal service. If a person elects not to serve, then they do not avail of the above stated incentives.

I appreciate the historical references, however I majored in Political Science and am well aware of the facts you mentioned. I also appreciate this debate, however I am going to have to bow out as I feel this discussion going down a rabbit hole. We here at RallyPoint are not about forcing anyone to change perspective, but rather, we are here to share ideas in a forum amongst like-minded people. And if we do not agree with one another after spirited dialogue, we move on to other topics. This isn't Facebook.

As a young man I used to feel it would be beneficial to have mandatory service with options. As a senior citizen I have come to see it is not in our long term best interest to require mandatory service. The complexities of assurances of such power are too great to legislate to assure the outcomes we desire of freedom, liberty and general prosperity.

Mandatory service rewards personality types that tend to place Science over the love of God (the Great Cosmic Eternal Wisdom). Countries that place Science above the love of God quickly devolve into tyranny.

Mandatory tends to reward power-authority traits of sociopaths, control, lying, deception, abuse, blackmail, self interest, corruption and murder. As a result society devolves long term to the world we see today.

https://www.buckleyrealty.com/us-on-wrong-side-of-this-war-march-2022

Good idea, Sgt. Oakes. But...who's going to pay for it? The Federal Budget is toast, on the decline, with cuts happening across the board. State and Local? They'll raise your taxes to fund it. Families? They're trying to kick the youngsters out and cut the apron strings. They'll fight to NOT have to continue supporting children who should be out on their own with a paying job. Good idea...but tough to crack a nut that hard!

Have you ever noticed when politician promise free education, free medical care, free housing etc nobody is complaining about be forced to take free stuff? Many of us complain about working and paying taxes to pay for the free stuff for the others. I don't ever remember anyone demonstrating, burning the Flag and saying "Hell no I don't want free stuff!" I do remember very vividly the Flag being burned at college campuses while the chant went out, "Hell no we won't go!"

COL John Hudson - right on the money Sir! The government is no position to hire 10-15 million 18-19 year olds every year. You're talking over $200 billion a year in just compensation. And unlike business there's no return on investment, at least not from that crowd their comp will be so low any taxes they pay will get refunded to them in April.

Col John Hudson, CPT Nick Bryan You both make good points about the cost. I don't have a definitive answer. Perhaps we could start charging other countries for all the services our military, law enforcement and intelligence agencies provide to them.