Military Service Should Not Be Mandatory For Everyone Starting At Age 18

No person in the world should be forced to have to go to the military. It should be his or her decision to fight on behalf of their country. They should not be forced to go because, they are not motivated, are too young, and are leaving their lives behind. When they are forced to go to the military they are probably not motivated towards it.

Military children learn to give up things starting at a young age, but it makes them strong. The boys become the men of the house, while their fathers are away and the girls become women. They learn to adapt to all the different situations that they may come across, but "at the same time, these kids have a sense of overwhelming pride" (Reese, 2004, p. 2).

“I think we ought to have a draft. I think if a nation goes to war, it shouldn't be represented by a professional force because it gets to be unrepresentative of the population . . . .” (Fayette, par. 2). Those are the words of General Stanley McChrystal, the former senior commander of international forces in Afghanistan, speaking of his stance on whether the United States should bring back the draft. The American public has become disconnected from the military. The time has come to do something about this; it is time to reinstate the draft. There are three reasons why the draft should be reinstated. The costs of military personnel have soared in recent years, it would make elected officials think twice before sending troops overseas since there will be a larger pool of draftees it would create a melting pot of backgrounds. Although there are those who condemn the draft, they miss the point entirely. Without question, the draft should be reinstated immediately.

In the military, the life is not actually too different from what you do now. (Army Daily Life. (n.d.),Paragraph 1) Each base has a store called a commissary which has lots of different groceries and things you need or want for low prices… sort of like a Walmart in the civilian world. (Army Daily Life. (n.d.), Army Shopping, Commissary). One thing that is bad about the military is that you do not get to choose where you live. You have to move among different bases a lot more frequently than that of someone who goes to college. (Sweeney, H., & M. (n.d.), Cons to living on base, The base realignment and closure commission) Another thing that is not good about the army is that some barracks are not as modern as others and might not have exactly everything you need or want to live comfortably. (Sweeney, H., & M. (n.d.), Cons to living on base, Some Military Housing Not Up to Snuff) Also, you are required to live in the barracks, unlike in college you can live at home if you are close enough or you can live in an apartment. You also have to share that living space with at least someone else. (Sweeney, H., & M. (n.d.),Cons to living on Base, Unaccompanied Housing Quarters) With colleges, they most of the time make you share a dorm room with another person, so it may be somewhat similar to that experience with the barracks. So it may be

For Korean men, two years of military service is mandatory. I served in the Korean army until 2014 August since 2012. As time went by in the army, I felt very uncertain about my future. Therefore, I wanted to challenge myself by trying new things. Fortunately, I was working in a special troop with the US army, so I had a lot of opportunities to speak English and experience American culture. Moreover, most of my American friends that I met there, recommended me to study overseas for my future.

The Military Draft has been a major part in United States history. The draft has been used in four different conflicts in the United States of America. It was used in Both world wars, the Civil war, and the Cold war. It might have been effective during these times, but it also causes great corruption and sacrifice. It caused families to lose their sons and friends. Many people lied about their age to join the war, and they were too young and didn’t understand the consequences of war. War is never a good thing to be in, in any circumstance. It this paper I will give you reasons why we don’t need a United States draft. As Americans we have to be thankful that we have a strong and productive Military, so we can have our freedom and safety in times of need.

Being in the military takes dedication as well as devotion because it is a big commitment that one must follow through with. Rod Powers, a writer, states, “Before you join, recognize the fact that a stint in the military is not civilian employment. It's not just like having a regular job. You can't just get up and quit anytime you want to" (Powers). One must be patient because this is a responsibility Powers also states, “Along with not being able to quit, there is also the factor of being deployed for months. Soldiers may find themselves spending up to seven months out of every year deployed” (Powers). A soldier must be able to handle being separated from family and friends for a good amount of time. This separation can cause stress and anxiety between soldiers and their families. Bruce Bell, a psychiatrist, and Walter Schumm, an author, clarify that, "Returning from deployment can sometimes be stressful and disappointing" (Bell and Schumm). Soldiers can return home to problems concerning money, children, spouses, or other relatives. In addition to stress, soldiers and families also get anxious. Bell and Schumm also mention that, “Unpredictable timing can

Absolutely, positively, emphatically, unequivocally, without a doubt, NO! Not now, not ever! Well, maybe for one reason, in the event of an existential threat to our nation. Now that I have stated my opinion I will back this up with information from several studies providing evidence for continuing the worlds greatest all volunteer (entry) military force.

The United States has come a long way from the mandatory draft preceding 1973. The abolishment of the military draft efficiently resulted in a volunteer based enlistment. The U.S. has had no problem recruiting enlistees in past years (Thompson), yet confidence in our government and the unity of their democracy is at an all time low. The people do not feel like recognized members of the political unit, and this undermines the basic principles of maintaining a republic (Stengel). For a republic to work, it requires active participation of the citizens, in mind and body. Americans must take involvement in said government to remain free and have a voice in the matter (Kinley). If all participation is left solely to the bureaucracy, that constitutes

The great establishers of the country of the United States of America had issued a draft, a draft that is still in writing, but is not used; even though when every man turns eighteen he must register. The draft for the young men of the United States has not been used since Vietnam. This is because of the effects this left on the next generation of America, and also because of how citizens acted towards the government. Many soldiers tried to fail the physical test, and some even ran away to the country of Canada, never to return because if they did, they would be thrown in jail. When the soldiers who obeyed returned home, they were disgraced and shamed, even though hardly any went because they chose too. Lately, America has been in a war that is still occurring. Even though our military is at a stable rate, and has full resources, I still believe that the draft be reinstated, but with new terms. I believe that the new terms for the draft should give the draftees a

The soldiers face loneliness, isolation, the heavy burden of fear, and the weight of their reputations. The soldiers carry such a heavy weight from the past, in the present, and for the future. Even after the war, the psychological burdens the men carried during the war continues to define them. Those who survive the war carry guilt, grief, and confusion.

The service taught him that all of the soldiers are united. “When you are in the army, all of the soldiers are like brothers, they are there for you” he told me. It also taught him how to cook. He was also taught how to shoot a rifle and use a bayonet. “If you are born with freedom, you will take it for granted, but if you fight for it, you will appreciate your freedom more”, he told me.

When people think of the military, they often think about the time they spend over in another country, hoping they make it back alive. No one has ever considered the possibility that they may have died inside. Soldiers are reborn through war, often seeing through the eyes of someone else. In “Soldier’s home” by Ernest Hemingway, the author illustrates how a person who has been through war can change dramatically if enough time has passed. This story tells of a man named Harold (nick name: Krebs) who joined the marines and has finally come back after two years. Krebs is a lost man who feels it’s too complicated to adjust to the normal way of living and is pressured by his parents.

Most people have, at one point or another, considered what they were going to do with their lives. Whether a person would like to become an activist, an artisan or a business professional, the military has something for everyone. Finding a path in life is often filled with uncertainty and procrastination. The United States military is a path in itself, should one wish to retire from it; however, should a person wish to make their own path, there are benefits for that as well that can remove all doubt and curb procrastination. Due to these many benefits, I believe that it should be mandatory for all adults to enlist for a minimum of twenty-four months.

Making military service mandatory sound like it would be a good idea. This can give discipline, makes stronger citizens, but the reality is doing this takes away freedom and goes against the very foundations of what America is supposed to be. Mandatory military service should not be required for American citizens.