Are we to the point of Mandatory Service?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 11:16:35 -0400

Having visited many countries during my service, I saw the pros and cons of mandatory service. So my question to the community is, Should America stay a voluntary service, or should we implement the Mandatory Service requirements for our youth?

Response by SGT William B. made Sep 5 at 2014 11:59 AM

SGT William B. — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 11:59:08 -0400

Unless there is a *drastic* change worldwide that compels the full mobilization of the industrial strength of the United States, I would rather have the military stay all-volunteer. I'd rather sit in a foxhole with another joe that wants to be there instead of someone who was forced under the weight of law.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Sep 5 at 2014 1:42 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 13:42:36 -0400

As 1LT John Martin only a few that sign up are even eligible to enlist. The idea of mandatory service has been kicked around for some time now. I personally don't see it happening any time soon.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Sep 5 at 2014 2:15 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 14:15:47 -0400

More like back to the point of mandatory service. I would like to see this happen, although with the entitlement generation coming into it's own, well it may not be wise. There are some who would benefit from serving in the military, and some who are serving who don't seem to grasp what it means to wear the uniforms of our armed forces. My only hope is that if we go back to mandatory 2 year service commitments or longer, they aren't or won't be trained by the latter group. So much for my .02

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 5 at 2014 2:19 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 14:19:11 -0400

I think Israel has it going on with their policy. I remember in High School, when the twins had to return home to join the Army between junior and senior year for training or they could not keep their dual citizenship. Am I paranoid thinking that not only is it reality if a 2 war front is possible, then a 3 war front can't be ruled out as an option? Everytime this kid hears draw down, I flash back to pre-WWII levels, those poor Task Force Smith veterans, Vietnam, Desert Storm, etc. I would support it. I will be first in line if there is way to return to active duty. Why have a draft when we can send our troops 3,5, 8 times and then piss and moan that it is expensive to give adequate post military care (sarcasm & contempt implied). Are we there yet? Not at the moment, but how quickly things can change.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 2:35 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 14:35:44 -0400

Nah....most of the youth are disqualified anyway. Waste more money weeding them out than trying to hunt out the few that wish to serve.

Response by CPO Jon Campbell made Sep 5 at 2014 2:47 PM

CPO Jon Campbell — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 14:47:10 -0400

Having trained conscripts, I would say, "I hope not." About 20 years ago, the Coast Guard experimented with a 'try it out for 2 years' enlistment. It was a failure. Not because it was a bad idea though. It failed because the people that signed up ened up being treated as if they were disposable. People referred to the program as the "Disposable Seaman Program."
Conscripts have a very low retention rate making training costly and ineffective. They don't just lack motivation either, they often actively work at hindering training and missions.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 2:58 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 14:58:48 -0400

I oppose conscription with every fiber of my being.

The only way I would be for mandatory service is if it was as an UN paid reserve (militia) status and you only attended 2 weeks of initial training (maybe during high school).

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 3:04 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 15:04:06 -0400

SSG Oliver Mathews - I see two big issues here. The first of course is the proper number of veterans to get the job done and the second, is the damage being done to morale.

Because of the latter, the draft may be necessary because of the former. I hate social scientists with an agenda. (He hate me) lol

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 4:22 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 16:22:56 -0400

No.

As much as I feel every able bodied civilian would benefit from a standard term of military service, I do not want them in MINE. I would rather focus on a force of quality than quantity.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 7:52 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 19:52:44 -0400

I think it's a good thing that we as a nation don't use conscription. All the other points about retention rates, whether or not they meet the standards we uphold, are well said, but consider this: As a society that holds ourselves as the model of democracy, lovers of freedom and liberty, what does it say about us that we would force our citizens to defend the republic?

Conscripting troops would be akin to slavery, which is in direct opposition to our values as Americans....

With that being said, there is still the issue of the civil-military divide. A draft would do a lot to heal that, because more people would understand us.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2014 10:48 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 10:48:04 -0400

So it look slike a majority opposes Mandatory military service, but is that opposition as strong if it were purely a civil duty, (Police Force, Sherriff's Dept, Firefighting, Maybe a specialized military service focused on helping the needs of the country rather than a fighting force.) Would you opposition ring as loud to these thoughts, as they do to Mandatory Military Service?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2014 8:09 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 20:09:19 -0400

SGT Jones, this is a question I have considered for many years. I firmly believe we should implement a mandatory service - much like Germany has - either military or "civil service" for everyone. Say two years or 18 months. And then participants might get two years of college paid for free, under a new version of the GI bill.

I spent just over 30 years on active duty in the Army, and I am SO glad that I spent my first four years in the Infantry. There I learned about the "real Army" and those lessons served me well for the next 26 years in military intelligence.

I submit that a mandatory service period - either military or civil - would help our youth mature, grow up, learn a sense of duty, honor, country, and be better citizens.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 10:51 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 10:51:11 -0400

Do I think that we should have compulsory military service no. Look at the mess that the National Call to Service program caused after it was implemented.

I do not know if the other services had issues, but we have had several in the Navy side. We have kids that entered under National Call to Service, 2 years active, 2 years Reserve. Well most of these "kids" are just getting done with their "A" School (Tech School, Advanced Training) by the time they are coming up on the end of their second year and now all of a sudden they are in the Reserves and have no clue what is going on. I am not blaming the Sailor here, just giving an example.

But...... I do think that the youth of our nation should be required to do some sort of community service. Our society really is loosing our sense of community, country and family in my opinion.