Guest Blogger, Basic Training Specialist Sgt. Mike Volkin, looks at the pros and cons of restarting the military draft.
The last time Americans were drafted to go to war was the Vietnam War (1961-1975). Since then, the military has successfully sustained an all volunteer force. However, the former US commander in Afghanistan, Stanley McChrystal, recently pushed for a reinstatement of the draft to ease the strain of the current volunteers force constant rotation of deployment. In June of 2012, McChrystal stated ”Less than one percent of Americans are touched by this,” referring to military personnel who have been deployed numerous times for long rotations in recent years. McChrystal went on to state how our professionally trained military has never been in extended wars for such a lengthy period of time without a draft.
In Vietnam, draftees represented 25 percent of the total military force, but accounted for over 30 percent of combat deaths. Many Americans are passionate about the subject of a draft. Let’s examine the pros and cons of a draft:
Pros:
-More troops.
-Troops will be representative from all segments of society.
-Lower cost, per troop, to train and deploy.
-Shorter deployments for current troops.
Cons:
-Professional voluntary enlisted troops have to fight alongside sparsely trained troops.
-Most drafted troops lack motivation.
-Drafts are largely unpopular among the civilian population.
– Very expensive to provide equipment, food and resources to tens of thousands of extra troops.
Be prepared for basic training. Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook, available at UltimateBasicTraining.
I cant wait for the next draft I will get to serve my country at laste if I dont pass my test on tuseday. Otavious is my name
Hey Otaviose, when I was young my mother always gave me pep talks, she always told me that no matter how impossible things may be, you can achieve any thing you want in this world. If you want to serve, study hard & accomplish ur goal, it may take a lil- more work, but you can do it!
True, I will know what day I leave for BCT next thursday. so I will be living out my dreams very soon. cant wait to serve my country. War is a fear that I have but will do my best while out there protecting my great country.
Look what happened to Congressman Wrangle who suggested reinstatement of the draft! The man got the treatment from the Neo Con head hunters. The anti draft movement of the 60-70's was basically a Jewish thing. They claimed to be against war, but now look how they want the USA to get involved in crushing out the Arab world for Israel. If Jews are to in the military, they want higher pay, a college degree requirement, and ethnic cleansing of the tattooed bad mouth southern whites and Black ghetto gang members….the very people who have always grabbed a gun and laid down in the ditches for the battles. They beat HItler, for god's sake, now they are being dumped on.
No.
You are an idiot.
No offence to you or any one else who likes the idea of drafting but honestly war is the stupidest thing ever created. Why do you want to go to a different country where an entire military much like ours is out to kill you? I have two brothers who I am very close to, and if they were drafted to fight a battle that they did not start or choose to fight in, I would shoot the person who reinstated the drafting in the head. My family did not start the war and they will not be participating in it. And I know you say that you are "defending our nation" but honestly our government just wants to gain control of the countries around us. Greed fuels war. Why do you want to be a part of killing others because our country is greedy. And when was the last time there was war on United States soil? How would you feel if some other country brought a bunch f troops into the United States and just started killing our citizens much like we are doing to other countries? Also many veterans that come back from war have psychological problems and extreme nightmares. They never come back the same as when they left. War changes people, for the worse. Before you go all out on the thought of drafting have you every just sat around and thought about every aspect of war or what it does to people and families. If you haven't, you should sometime. Before you let war ruin your life and this country.
*Of
You really are a dumb cunt aren't you? Oh and by the way *of.
i would do anything to join any branch! Draft would be sweat but i do understand the pros an cons.. I just wanna serve i'm just on probation……
……..***Sweet*** But I admire your Enthusiasm
I am not American but I have gotten my degree and I am doing what ever it takes to enlist. I want to serve as a pilot in the marines. I grew up in the caribbean admiring the valor of the marines and the US military as a whole.
Have a look at MAVNI. Research well and make informed decisions. It will reopen shortly.
Where are you from Ganesh ? The reason I ask when I was A/D Navy a shipmate of mine was from Peru, and became an American citizen. But having dual citizenship can prevent some issues when enlisting into the service. Don't give up I would be honored to serve beside you, but when you are looking for a high profiled program such a pilot or other secret or top secret positions the NCIS and FBI will not allow many dual citizens into a position as such. There was a shipmate of mine that had this problem.
Now that my children are raised and u have common sence they lower the age to 35 I just turned 36 healthiest I have ever been I can run 10 miles a day and feel great but I can’t serve my country . Sad
Coast Guard goes to age 39.
I graduated high school in May 1968. While was waiting for fall enrollment in a near-by college to open in mid Aug I was drafted in Jun 1968 and couldn't get a waiver. I reported for my induction and ended up staying in on active duty for 22 yrs and 2 1/2yrs of reserve time. We should go back to old school method of having every male 18 up to 30 have military commitment. It might give this younger generation respect for themselves and other people.
I agree to that, I am 25 and ant to join the Army, i tired of my boring doing nothing life, i plan on enlisting as soon as i get my diploma, as i am a drop out. never completed anything, i think that military motivation will help that.
the motivation comes frome you man. you want it get. for me to reinlist i had to get my ged. so i know where your at. luck to you
sounded like me years ago…best decision I made.worth the journey being in the military. DO IT!! But ALWAYS REMEMBER>>>>it is YOUR attitude in your soul that will make you or break you!!<<<<<<<<!!
Now that my children are raised and I
have common sence they lower the age to 35 I just turned 36 healthiest I have ever been I can run 10 miles a day and feel great but I can’t serve my country . Sad
Every man and woman should be drafted when they reach eighteen years of age. Each individual should be required to complete a period of service and remain in the reserves for thirty years or till fifty years of age. The Regular Services should be recruited from the ranks of the draftees including cadets for the military academies.
I have absolutely no problem with a requirement for public service for all young people. MIlitary would be one option among others. A persistent problem is that only males have been subject to drafts. That is the ultimate in discrimination against males. Women can doing anything they want including combat, as long as they want to volunteer. If they can do it willingly, they should be forced to do it if there is another draft, the same as men.
The only thing stopping me from being able to go in right now is that i have a PODP possession of drug paraphernalia. it's my dream to go special forces. i'm 19. its a young mans game. not for the elderly. i know the average age is around 30 but by that time many have already been in and served multiple tours and have had lots of training i don't know if they are still doing the 18 xray program anymore but i'm not that physically fit there yet i do that insanity and p90x workout and run and swim most days just that i would rather be well conditioned to the enviornment then thrown into but if thats what i got to do then im up for it. If there is a draft coming when will it be and what will the new rew requirements be to enlist. if anyone here knows that i might/can still get in with all the drawdowns and reductions in force please let me know, the only thing thats stopping me is my PODP conviction. Leave some kind of contact info if you reply to this.
I am going into my senior year of high school and really want to join the army. I am physically fit, mentally stable, however, I have a small history of a minor mood disorder. Although it no longer exists for me, now I am told I need a medical waiver to join and the way it looks at this time, it may not be likely. I really hope things will change so I can serve my country.
You are not alone. I am on he same boat as you. I am mentally stable but have depression in my past and took an antidepressant for it. It no longer affects me anymore. I am in the Army enlistment process right now and am worried about what MEPS will say after reviewing my medical history records.
My grandpa was drafted into the army during Nam. Even though he never saw combat he's still proud he served. I'm following his footsteps. I'll be wearing a similar uniform only mine is going to be blue.
This is crazy you have a lot of people unemployed that wants to join the military . I want to join but I'm 43, if they let me join I will the age should be raise to 50. I feel any man or women that want to protect there country should be giving the chance.
Fucjng Right ! i just turned 40,my son just turned 18, the only reason i did not enlist earlier was because i wanted to make sure ,my son stayed on straight and narrow. You are sending young men and women into harms way,When you can have men like me who would fight and die if need be for the U.S.A.Shit during the korean war they rushed men into the U.s.M.C. with only two weeks of training,pissed the regular Jarheads off ! My Family has fought in each and every war the U.S. has had except, the war of Independence. Im in fine shape and was raised by a military Family, my mother also works for the D.O.D. get me into army please. you need me,I have a good job, but you know and i know there is another war on the way.
I am a National Guard member and have put in for voluntary deployment 2 times. No response in a year. I have an excellent military record and have been back in the service for 11 months. I have spoke with numerous recruiters about going active army and was told that no one can get in at this time, they are trying to get people out. So why a draft if no one can get in or deployed that WANTS to go???
Also, I have heard "rumors" of a national list for deployment for anyone not just the state your serve. Anyone know of this list and how a person gets their name on it?
When the rich and affluent have to join the military it will be a great day for our country! Until then the military is nothing more that a private police force that protects the interest of the rich and affluent around the world…
Mitt Romney five deferments during Vietnam, Dick Cheney five deferments during Vietnam, Newt Gingrich three deferments during Vietnam, George W. Bush a " NoShow " assignment to an Air National Guard Unit during Vietnam, Mitt Romney has five sons who will never step forward a defend The United States of America!!! Along with the rest of those coward nit wits in the highest levels of Government, the Supreme Court, Wall Street and Bankers…
I can see why you are not in the military—probably wouldn't pass or be accepted due to attitude, or possibly even physical exam. Today's military is an all volunteer military. The draft would be necessary to increase the number of military members as needed in a crisis and we get good and bad members in a draft. All volunteer means a person wants to serve their country, not be forced to. What have YOU done for your country, thus far, besides complain?
You've swallowed all the leftist propaganda hook, line and sinker. The wealthiest people in this country are the democrats. Don't believe me? Look it up. And John F. Kerry did a fine job of shooting at the enemy's backs as they fled, then denigrated our military in his ensuing congressional speeches. So how is that any better? No doubt in my mind the affluent democrats of our country use more "get out of servce" passes than the republicans do.
Yeah I agree with you william the military only cares about the higher people in society its all about politics,.yet they see us latinos as peasants the lowest of all lower than blacks when in reality us minorities are the ones who go for it and join they have no respect for us which makes me say f* that I’m not going to war for a country that turns their back on us once the war is over so much sacrifice for what?? And yet its horrible because I love my country and I really want to serve,.
If you really loved your country, you would not write the stuff you do. I am also Latino – I enlisted, served 20 -went to college evenings – the army paid for most of a bachlors and a masters. now i am a college professor. Your main problem is your attitude J.M.
J.M. is on to something here. The military does recruit among the poorest populations, and veteran care in this country must be improved. Can you imagine the military coming into a white, rich suburban area and trying to recruit? I think it's great USA SFC that you used your military experience to educate yourself and get a good job. But your success story does not influence the military's recruitment tactics on the whole.
Yeah I agree with you william the military only cares about the higher people in society its all about politics,.yet they see us latinos as peasants the lowest of all lower than blacks when in reality us minorities are the ones who go for it and join they have no respect for us which makes me say f* that I’m not going to war for a country that turns their back on us once the war is over so much sacrifice for what?
I think its really F@#*ed up that the military wont let me in because im on probation for my driving record but if a draft comes around they make me join. I want to be a seal and I cant even get the chance.
Great, this would be an easy ticket of leaving my fast food job behind me and I wouldn't have to worry about the possibility of getting my dream of being in the military smashed because of past history of antidepressants. This would be so wonderful.
I believe in the draft as long as those who are drafted are foreign born "U.S. Citizens."
IM ALL FOR THE DRAFT, I'M A PRIOR SEVICE AND HAVE A HANDICAP. I LOST ALL FIVE LEFT FINGERS BUT STILL CAN SHOOT A WEAPON PERFECTLY. i'M A US NATIONAL.
I'm glad the military won't just let anyone join, those that abused drugs, alcohol, or have reckless driving shouldn't join. If you know your background isn't clean, down even think of walking into a recruiters office.
I think it would be good for all 18 yr old to be required to go to boot camp and do at lease 2yrs give them a sense of pride of the the red white and blue to know the price that was paid for our freedom . Some would join after for long term others would hopefully walk away with a different outlook .
Damn straight!
amen to that
To begin, I served 8 years in the USN in a sea going rate.. My rank was First Class Petty Officer.. I was in the Navy from 71 to 79. Was being trained to go to Nam on the Coastal River Boats,, but the war ended before I could put my training to the test.. I served the majority of my time on Destroyers..
The Draft was in full force when I did my first 4 yr and opposite ( all vol. enlistment ) the second 4yr.. There was a great diff between the two type of Sailors I had to work with… Draft types were often not wanting to be in the service, but honor , and making the best of the situation was very evident.. Great bunch of people to be around.. The Viet-Nam war ended and the newbie's seemed to have all sorts of baggage, ( Legal, Behavioral , ) .. The Military became a way of getting out of town sort of.. They didn't last and many were weeded out with other then Honorable Discharges..
I guess what I'm trying to get at , is the military is not the place to bring all your civilian issues .. It's the Recruiters job first to sort of Triage , and Bootcamp secondly to ensure the best are allowed in..
I , in a military stressfull situation did not, and I am sure that those today will say the same , want someone posted to watch my back to have medications and social issues take that moment to crop up.. If you had my back when I was in you had better be up to the job!