Military service requirement?

[TheKman]

I, like probably everyone else, have heard a wide variety of topics loosely discussed after the tragedy of Sep 11, 2001. One of the topics that I have heard in many different places (friends, co-workers, family) is whether or not America should institute a polcy like Isreal, mandatory military service at the age of 18. Two years active and then reserves.

What do you all think of a possible requirement such as this? Should it apply to both men and women? Does it really fit in with the American social/political belief system?

Please keep the discussion form degrading to personalities.

[whkoh]

Well, here the military service is 2 1/2 years active and then reserves. I don't think US should enforce mandatory military service, and the current reserves and professional military personnel should see them through for the forseeable future.

[kevin]

That is a great question.....

My belief is that military duty should be encouraged but not mandatory except in extreme circumstances.

Unless avoiding military duty can be made into such a social or professional stigmata that few would dare avoid it, I do not believe that mandatory service will work in the USA. I don't see how serving in the military can be made fair and equitable across all economic and social classes in America. I have little doubt that mostly the poor and minorities would end up being the people that serve mandatory military duty while the rich and the sons and daughters of politicians would find some creative and some not so creative ways to avoid it.

I can see little Billy Clinton Jr. getting his medical exemption because of an ingrown toe nail he had when he was ten years old.... or little Billy Gates Jr. getting his educational exemption because he is in college taking vital courses like hospice management (which only seems to require one hour of classroom instruction per month)

call me cynical.....

Regards,
Kevin

[quietstorm]

Bad idea. I agree with Kevin.

I know that I, for one, wouldn't do much good in anything except computers. And the minimum 6 month wait between being drafted, and put into active duty (when they really need people) they wouldn't have enough people quik enough.

[Goldilocks]

Originally posted by quietstorm
Bad idea. I agree with Kevin.

I know that I, for one, wouldn't do much good in anything except computers. And the minimum 6 month wait between being drafted, and put into active duty (when they really need people) they wouldn't have enough people quik enough.

I don't believe it should made mandatory except in extreme circumstances. However, there is more to serving in the military than running around battlefields with a gun. I'm sure your excellent computer skills could be put to good use somewhere quietstorm. ;)

If it really had to be made mandatory then I believe that it should apply to both men and women. Having said that I really can't imagine myself doing it, let's hope it doesn't come to that! :shady: My brother is in the RAF Regiment and he loves his job but everyone is different and I think it takes a certain type of person to voluntarily join the forces. I would really hate it if it became mandatory. :(