Essay about The Military Draft is Against the US Constitution

The United States should not bring back mandatory military service, also known as “the draft”. I personally am not supportive of the draft due to many issues including health and mental concerns brought about by the war. These concerns include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, and Substance Abuse, just to name a few. I also feel that the education of the soldiers would be limited because after age 18, most people go to college. Age 18 is also the age males must enlist for the draft. If I were forced into the Army due to a draft, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to live life to the fullest. For instance, if a soldier was severely injured, the injury would affect the way that person would of live the rest of their life. The injury could even potentially cut the person’s life short. The mental health, physical health, education, and life in general should be taken into consideration before the United States sends young men and women out to war. These diseases are very harmful and we should think about others not just ourselves.

Previous conscription implementations have been proved to be devastating to its nations. The economy depends on the workers and cannot possibly be maintained if many of said workers are drafted into the military. Civil liberties must always be prioritized over national security in the United States because that is what the nation was built upon. Lastly, with all the other alternatives present there is no need for a military conscription to occur. Overall a mandatory military conscription in the United States clearly should not be an event that arises in the foreseeable future due to previous conscription efforts, possible economic effects, the infringement of civil liberties, and other

Many people in the 1960s and early 1970s did not understand why the United States was involved in the Vietnam War. Therefore, they had no desire to be a part of it. The Selective Service System, which was used to conduct the draft, had aspirations of directing people into areas where they were most needed during wartime. However, people took advantage of the draft system’s deferment policies to avoid going to war. Others refused induction or simply did not register. There were also people who left the country to escape the draft. The Vietnam War proved to be an event that many Americans did not agree with, and as a result, citizens took action to elude the draft entirely or to beat the draft system.

“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.

On August 7th 1964 the United States Congress passed into law the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which, for all intents and purposes, officially brought the United States into the Vietnam War. Following this resolution, a draft was instated to increase the number of men that could be sent to war. Shortly after men started to be signed into conscription for the United States Military, a public outcry started over the use of a draft to increase military size. The draft was found to be unfair to American Citizens because certain groups of men were severely disadvantaged, the draft was illegal in many ways, and veteran’s future lives were harmed, among other reasons.

Conscription, or more boldly the draft, has not been in place for some thirty years. While some people cringe at the thought of reinstating the draft, others have different views. This short paper will speak of those different views and the reasons why conscription of military service may not be such a bad idea after all.

According to the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Conscription is defined as “the practice of ordering people by law to serve in the armed forces” (Merriam-Webster’s 2000.) While the definition Merriam-Webster gives of slavery is “submission to a dominating influence” (Merriam-Webster’s 2000). The similarity between these two terms is apparent, and any justification of slavery is known to be a pitiable grievance. When the government is clearly a dominating influence with the illegality of not participating in the draft and desertion being a punishable offence there is no question it was a form of slavery. In the land of the free how could it be that such fundamental rights were being stripped away? The 13th amendment a doctrine against slavery was created long before the Vietnam Draft, and yet involuntary servitude was still permitted. As stated by the National Archives the 13th amendment provides that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”(Constitution 1985). Therefore the servitude that men were forced into during the Vietnam War directly violates the constitution. Shockingly though after abolishing slavery, and encouraging a variety of methods to promote equality, the draft was just

Would you be willing to drop everything right now and join the military? Thousands of men were troubled with this question in the twentieth century. The United States draft, also called conscription, was first used during the Civil War but later used in WWI, WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Napoleon was the first general to use the modern draft. In 1940 FDR signed the Training Service Act of 1940 starting the first formal draft in the United States, but in 1973 congress decided to have an all-volunteer military. President Carter decided to resume the draft in 1980 due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Today the draft is not used but the US still requires its 18-year-old

For most of American history men, and women have rose to the occasion in times of war, and joined. Women served as nurses, and cooks, while the men fought. This idea of fighting for our country is slowly fading; the U.S. Civil War, World War I, World War II, Vietnam war, and the Korean War all used drafts. What if everyone was required to spend two years in the military? When did the idea of fighting for one’s country, one’s freedom, leave the minds of young adults in the country. A two year draft might not affect you, but your children, your grandchildren, and so forth deserve to live in a country that is great. Fighting for your country should be something everyone takes part in; we should not take our freedom for granted; the United States of America has your back, give the country

This pamphlet has been created to help you understand why the draft should be brought back in today's society.

When looking at the whole picture, and deciding the pro’s and con’s of the military draft I have one final are for you to look at. Currently our armed forces are voluntary and do not accurately represent the American population. With the ideal draft system in place, it will allow for individuals from all aspects of society to represent and provide their service to our country. Along with proper representation, the military cost would be lowered. Although the armed forces would have to pay individuals more and the additional cost of food, equipment, and other essential needs would go up the, the cost of recruiting, advertising and additional benefits to lure persons into the recruiting

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln was forced to begin drafting. Many people complained that it was unconstitutional. This was the first mandatory military recruitment in U.S history. There has been two more drafts since Lincoln had the first one in 1863. The argument most people have about drafting is, “if it is right?”

Not everyone wishes to follow Caputo's desire to be the hero charging the undulating hills, lush jungles and grasslands of Vietnam. The need for high numbers of military units during the height of the Vietnam War required a draft. At first, the draft is designed to be a pool which unfortunately results

Throughout human history, war has permeated the lives of billions of people. From early conflicts such as conquests to control vast swaths of land by Alexander the Great and Cyrus the Great to modern, global wars such as the World Wars, the concept of war has been at the forefront of humanity’s mind for centuries. However, in recent years, opposition to war and lack of participation in the military has become a common theme in many countries, including the United States. To help alleviate the troubles caused by lack of participation, the United States instituted a law allowing for the conscription of its citizens. Conscription, which can also be referred to as a draft, is defined as the compulsory drafting of citizens into military service (What). The Draft has been utilized throughout US History in a couple of prominent wars; however, opposition has manifested against the Vietnam War and the draft, rightfully stemming from ethical opposition to the war and hatred for what the war and the draft stood for.

These problems can be fixed by the volunteer military system. This system does not force young people to join the army. Furthermore, soldiers can have enough vacation and get enough salary, because joining the army is the same as getting a job in this system. It prevents infringement of human rights which is the first problem of draft policy. This system can fix the second problem of draft policy, also. Negative attitudes of soldiers who are conscripted into army will be changed to positive way, because they will think that they are not suppressed any more. The rate of violence and desertion in the army will be reduced. Moreover, soldiers can get more salary or time for vacation if they work hard in the army. Therefore, works in the army will progress efficiently and fast. Finally, the government will not waste people’s money for costs such as retraining soldiers. It might be very difficult to change at once. Therefore, it must be changed steadily and gradually. For example, the government can