As Veterans Day just happened, it occurs to me that a discussion about the draft—otherwise known as conscription—is in order. I think this is particularly so for two reasons. First, do we have a military—specifically an Army—that is reflective of all of America? Second, shouldn’t the responsibility for the defense of our nation rest on all of us? To be sure, I am very supportive of an all-volunteer Army. I served in it. But when I entered the Army in 1973, there were many soldiers still present in it who had been drafted. And frankly, they were quite good; bright too, even if a bit obstinate now and then.
While the active Army of today is superb and should be sustained, is it fully representative of the population, not only in terms of able-bodied soldiers, but all aspects of our society? Is it time for us to discuss an annual draft to fill up to 20 percent of the Army’s force structure in any given year? Is a draft—albeit a limited one—of all qualified persons, ages 18 to 22, who meet the physical and intellectual demands of military service warranted?
Such an approach could create a stronger connection to the military by society at large. In a way society itself would be drafted into the military by virtue of the connection to family and friends who are called up to serve. If one in five soldiers came from all walks of life, our military would better reflect our societal makeup, not only racially, but socially, regionally, and economically. Moreover there would be benefits for those who have been drafted.
Draftees tend to leave the Army after their commitment is completed and return to civilian society. Rarely are they worse for the wear. Many are better for the discipline, leadership, teamplay, and technical skills they learned while in the military, to say nothing of the GI Bill educational benefits that follow honorable service. When they do return home, they also frequently share their service experience—not all of which is negative—and are better people for having served their country, even if they had not intended to do so.
Meanwhile, some draftees will decide to remain in the service having discovered it was an agreeable lifestyle and experience. Still others will elect to remain in the Army reserve or National Guard in their home state, thereby alleviating pressure on manpower requirements for those components of our military structure. In that regard, a draft not only helps the Army meet its personnel needs, but encourages draftees to become citizen-soldiers after they leave active duty.
Note, this is not a call for generic national service as one might find in the Peace Corps or other volunteer organizations. The military is quite different in that respect. But a draft does accomplish an important need for society. When it comes to the nation’s defense, all of us should have “skin in the game” as a popular saying goes. And America as a whole will be better by distributing that obligation, not only to volunteers, but to those involuntarily called to serve their nation.
To be sure, the primary goal in recruiting an Army must be lethality, not social engineering. But the force of the future should be more representative of society, not only because that makes us stronger and better by exposing the sacrifice and demands of soldiering to a large swath of our citizenry, but also to induce our politicians contemplating war to think twice, particularly if their sons and daughters would be going into harm’s way.
Congress and the President both have as their first responsibility the protection of our rights and the security of the nation. In keeping with that, Congress should build a military force that is lethal and ready to fight. But that force must be composed of able-bodied men and women, properly trained, fully equipped, and physically and mentally tough to accomplish the gruesome tasks found in combat, even hand-to-hand fighting.
Congress has an awesome responsibility in this regard that cannot be taken lightly. The institution of the Army, which Congress is charged to assemble, is vital to America and requires tough and mission-focused citizens from across all of society. But make no mistake about it. We need a lethal Army, filled to the brim with steely-eyed warriors who understand that war is not a game, but rather a total commitment of one’s life. It’s deadly serious. American will not warmly embrace the idea of a draft. It never has. A volunteer Army has no controversy in that regard. But this Veterans Day we should ask ourselves, is it time for more of us to bear the burden of defending all of us with a military force that reflects all of America?
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