Posted on Jan 17, 2014
Should the President and elected officals with the power to send our sons and daughters to war be required to have served in the military?
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I feel it should be law that all political office members from president on down should have to have served in the military before they can be voted into office. If these people are going to have the power to decide who and when we go to war they should know what it is like to lead in the military. Far too many of our leaders have never served, and neither have their children yet they vote to send ours to war. <div>I recall at the height of the war in 2006 when politicians were considering a draft or mandatory conscription service. However they were silent when asked if their own children would be subject to the requirements of such a requirement.</div><div>A doctor must go to med school before they can legally practice medicine so the president should have to be a veteran before they can be commander in chief.</div>
Congress
Warfare
Military service
Office of the President (POTUS)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 114
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As much as I would like a president to have served in the military, the constitution defines the requirements and we should stick with them.
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Hell yes!! Those that don't have little knowledge and respect for what we do, little knowledge and respect for the history and reasons for global conflicts, and are totally clueless on global conflict resolution. Yes, they can surround themselves with smart people who are knowledgeable about the military and it's capabilities, but they still seem to make stupid decisions when it comes to military related issues. An example of those issues: Not attending security intelligence briefings, using military pay as a pawn for your budget negotiations, screwing with our healthcare and retirement benefits to force us to pay for your healthcare program instead.........
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1LT Shawn McCarthy
MAJ (Join to see)
I almost didn't notice your endorsement of my new kitten shaving hobby.
Gotta remember to use that @tag thingy sir.
I almost didn't notice your endorsement of my new kitten shaving hobby.
Gotta remember to use that @tag thingy sir.
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MAJ (Join to see)
1LT Shawn McCarthy I'm 80% Amish. I am not going to get those Hashpages and Mybooks and stuff.
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A1C Aaron Johnson
Yes yes and more yes. Every great president we had served. In one way or the other. The current one sucks ass.
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SFC Grudzinski, I also understand that sentiment, but military service doesn't guarantee sound military judgment in a Commander in Chief. Plus, some of our greatest war time Presidents have never served in the military (Lincoln and Roosevelt never served). President Kennedy was a decorated WWII veteran and oversaw one of the greatest military blunders of the Cold War (The Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba), then turned around and went against the advice of the Joint Chiefs and decided not to launch a preemptive strike on Cuba during the Missile Crisis. The President needs to be an effective administrator. Military matters are only one part of the job. This is why we have the Joint Chiefs and a National Security Council to advise the President on matters that he might not have first-hand experience in. The President also deals with national intelligence and diplomatic affairs, but no one says that the President needs to be a CIA officer of Foreign Service Officer as a pre-requisite for becoming President.
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LTC Paul Labrador
I think the bigger requirement in my mind is that the POTUS have executive leadership experience and the ability to make good choices based on the advice from advisors. As you noted, that is not unique to the military.
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I say no. What skills or knowledge would a candidate learn in the military that would make him a better president? Especially if you consider that most likely that experience would either be as a junior enlisted or officer. I don't believe you have to have been in combat to appreciate the gravity of sending troops into harms way. and you have the joint chiefs to advise you on whether military operations could achieve the ultimate conditions desired.
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
Col. it probably wouldn't hurt, it would be better than moron we have now.
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LTC (Join to see)
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth -I have to disagree with you there. i think it was a president with military experience who sent the troops off to a needless war.
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It could not hurt but I don't think it can or should be a requirement.
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Th military is great experience, but not the only great experience.
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The problem with Politicians, not first timers, today is that MOST have never held a Job. Struggled day to day to live. Lived Paycheck to Paycheck. They are all entitled millionaires with no concept of what the average Joe on the street goes through. I doubt that Military Service would change the attitude they already posses. I saw way more sorry Leaders than those that actually took their Service seriously. So no. In this day and age I don't see it as a benefit.
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Doubt in today's world that would happen, however it would be good if at least one senior staff had military experience; e.g., VP, Secretary of State, chief of staff, etc.
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The idea is not bad,but it would disqualify some otherwise good people. You would also have to change the constitution
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