Why Teenagers Should Be Allowed To Join The Military

These past three weeks I read a book called Teens at War by Allan Zullo. This book is about teens who sign up for the military, risking their lives for their country. We hear multiple stories of these teens. Some of these teens are underage and some of them are not. This makes some of the stories more interesting than the others.

“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.

Other problems that recruiter's face, when trying to attract military personnel, is advanced education, youth trends of popularity and society views. The principal activities that "compete" with military service for recent high school graduates are further schooling and civilian employment. The trade-offs among these alternatives shift substantially over time because of both fluctuations in the civilian economy and secular trends in the aspirations of youth (Sackett, 2003, p.43). With the current events in the world today and in the United States the trade-offs of not joining the military seem to have the edge causing recruiters to work harder and the government to spend more money on meeting their goals.

Think also, the possibility of forcing young criminals between the ages of 18 and 25 to join the military. Maybe due to joining the military, these young criminals would be reformed into honorable, self-respecting individuals or become leaders of our great nation. In addition, if military conscription were implemented, the tax payers would not have to pay for the juvenile criminals to be locked up in maximum or minimum security centers.

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.

The need for war has always been a debated point in human ideology. Countries choose to war over money, culture, terrorism, and many other issues. During the 1965-73 America drafted 1,728,344 individuals to the Vietnam wars (National Vietnam Veterans Foundation, 10 Aug 2015). With these escalated statistics an important question is raised on the morality of mandatory military service. This essay will discuss the dangers of drafted military services and how it harms personal freedoms, mental health, and it's effect on military movements and success.

The idea that members of a community have the duty to defend it, is as old as civilization itself (Ruschmann 10). The United States has an extensive history, starting with the original thirteen States of involuntary conscription in time of conflict. Citizen’s service is a standard principle of American military service, which places the obligation of service upon citizens to serve and to ensure that the state require those citizens to serve (Dalehite and Birskyte 1). With this obligation, young people will be imbued with a sense of “duty” and being part of the collective effort in which everyone will have and do their part for the benefit of the nation. Thereby, military service in the

Education is not the only benefit that comes from service in the military. When many people first join, they are assigned MOSs. MOSs are jobs assigned to someone when they first join (Nance). Each MOS is specific and is usually related to the field an individual is interested in. He is sent to training immediately after basic training. Each branch of the military has different jobs, depending on what is available. Jobs can range from being a dentist to becoming a lawyer, but each has its own school for

There are a lot of graduates fresh out of high schools that make the decision to use the military. There are some people that join the military because that is a fast and easy choice for them. The military gives everyone a wide variety of options. College for instance, the military allows you to serve your country and still have time to attend college and get a degree if you choose to do that. People that choose to join the military get the option to go to college anytime they feel during their military career. The military pays for part or all the tuition. The military has four different branches, Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines. Each branch offers different trades. Air Force for example, teaches people to fly, have mechanical skills,

There are many teens' in the world that do not want to serve in the military, so they should each have their own choice. Some teens are very weak, lazy, and will not do the right work for the military. If a person does not want to serve in the military, they will not even try to fight. If there are several people made to be in the

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.

No matter what branch of the military an individual decides to join, the one thing that is for sure is the individual learns to live by a specific code, usually specified by the branch of service. According to Ford et. al, the number one reason that youth decide to join the military is because of propensity or a natural tendency to behave in a certain way (Ford, Gibson, Griepentrog, & Marsh, 2014). Although, this is not the only reason for individuals, other reasons individuals decide to serve their country can be economical, adventure, college opportunities, or even a family tradition.

This training will also prepare the adult for employment in the civilian world. It can also place them well on their way to a college degree in a field related to what their job in the military is/was. If the individual desires to make a career change, one can also use many of those credits as elective credits. No matter what the situation, the military training and college credits will not go to waste!

The complex mind of a seventeen -year -old kid isn’t always the most lucid of the bunch. It is faced with a variety of crucial life decisions throughout this time period. Some choose the typical college route, others may decide to get into a specific trade, and last but not least there those who choose to serve our country, in which they join a specific branch of service. These young individuals see commercials on television; see local recruiters coming to their high school and ads in the newspaper or even on the side bar of their Facebook page. All of these influences have some sort of persuasion and influence in their own personal decision. This how America breeds and creates “the land of the free and the home of the brave” in our

As many other countries mandate young adults partaking in the military for two years, the United States should follow suit. Many beneficial consequences would be rendered as a result of the increase in service. This would also be a great commencement into the real world for any young adult. These statements can be explored by discussing the benefits of free college tuition, disciplined young adults who are ready to follow orders, and the sheer power of numbers.