In your opinion, should we have Mandatory National Service (e.g Join the Military, Peace Corps, etc.)?

I agree because you really only know what you have experienced. We need to provide these experiences and shape our nation away from entitlement. Earn vs Entitled

I agree plus all the "free" stuff politicians are advertising isn't free it comes from somewhere and they always seem to budget cut the military abd put those funds elsewhere.

I don't believe SGT Wallace is saying it's mandatory to join the military, rather one must serve their country and/or the global population in some way. If kids want free college it's a great way to have them understand world matters while earning their tuition. It's not against freedom, it's how we start to mold this country moving forward and I truly believe service and global understanding is a good foundation.

SFC Chad Sowash - Sure, I see where you are going with this, but allow me to expound on my earlier thought.

A bit dramatic perhaps, but allow me some leeway here when I say the concept is the distinction between "service" and "servitude". The word "required" or colorful use of its various synonyms differentiates the two. That matters. And yes, compulsory service outside of bonafide national need (the draft as the prime example) is very much against the spirit of freedom. Dare I have a little fun and say "un-American"???

I cited the military as not only one of his stated options, but one we have the most familiarity with on RallyPoint; I didn't mean imply that was the only option, just the one most of us hear about and have backgrounds in as SMs and vets.

I don't agree with the "stick" approach, but take no issue with the idea of providing "carrots" to encouraging people to chose for themselves to commit to some form of service. There's nothing wrong with providing incentives beyond the "warm & fuzzies" that come with putting one's time into the community or working for the Peace Corps or military service. If they do, great; if not though, no harm no foul. But it is VERY coercive to "make" people do it under even the mildest threat of some penalty, even if such coercion is done the name of some loftier opinion of what community and service means.

Besides, people tend not to truly buy-in when they are compelled to do a thing. So what is truly gained then? We all have to pay our taxes, but how many of us enjoy it? How many try to minimalize it? How many are so enamored with the concept of paying taxes that they voluntarily fork over more cash than legally required?

So long as I'm obeying the law, not interfering with others living their lives, and generally being a good citizen (mandatory service not now nor ever been required for that), then neither Uncle Sam nor my well intentioned neighbors have any business telling me what to do. It may well be a good & eye opening experience to get out into the world and do something for it, but just where is the empirical, direct correlation between compulsory(!) service and being a good person, good American or good world citizen?

It's not unlike a philosophical conversation I had with my son's high school VP. Nice guy, and it wasn't a heated debate or a particularly spirited one. See, the school says some form of volunteerism was a "core requirement"; a moot point for my son as he had done more than enough to fulfill what the school wanted anyway. My response was that by definition it is a coercive act to make kids do something outside of the reasonable, traditional academic tasks expected of kids at school; therefore it is in no way "volunteering". Turns out, he agreed, and said to the effect, that "requirement" is really waveable.

Don't misunderstand, I'm not arguing from the literalist, extremist point of view. There are laws and rules within a free society we need to adhere to simply to make the social contract work. I am certainly skeptical when adding more to the list however.

I would further say that community service--however one wants to define it--is a good thing that society can and should encourage. I don't disagree with the concept that service does provide a genuine investment in your country, community and perhaps the world as well; if its a choice not made under penalty of...whatever.