Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
The us should not reinstitute the military draft
The advantage of conscription
The us should not reinstitute the military draft
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: The us should not reinstitute the military draft
The Draft
(An Essay On Resolving Possible Issues With Reinstating the Draft)
“In 1940, the United States instituted a peacetime military draft that helped provide troops for World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. On Jan. 27, 1973, the day the Vietnam peace pacts were signed, the draft was ended” (Moskos, 2000).There is no sense in reinstating the draft when it will not benefit our nation at all one of those reasons being that it wouldn't be as effective if we had three-hundred drafted but only twenty really wanted to be there. This solves problems with our military itself because as a nation we would have a stronger and more effective military. There has been many situations where the citizens believe it violates our freedom and that
…show more content…
with the rights we are given that it is completely immoral to force citizens to fight. The draft not only effects the soldiers themselves, but the people around them the economy can take a plunder when forcing a certain amount of our population to serve our country. I believe that if the United States was to reinstate the draft it would cause complete and utter chaos not only would it affect the military, but there is also a high possibility that the nation would not benefit either. My first issue towards reinstating the draft would be that forcing someone to fight will not be effective. I am certain that if we were to just pick a number and say "You go fight" the person will not have the passion or perseverance to fight for their country when that might not be something they had ever considered. "Turning the military-industrial complex is a little bit like turning a battleship, in an age in which smaller, faster ships with smaller crews launching unmanned aircraft is probably a better way to go."(Rothkopf, 2008). I think what Rothkopf is trying to say is that if we have a smaller military we will have a stronger fighting force and that numbers aren't always a determining factor. As a nation there are opinions causing the military to fall for example, if you were to pick someone that had dreamed of fighting for his country and being honorable by protecting his citizens that he will most likely have put more into the military than someone that is just chosen at random. Some may even think that war is pointless and therefore we will not have a very strong military to fall back on if we ever find this country in a certain situation. If the U.S. gets someone who is just going to half ass their duty, then what is the point in having a military at all. We might as well just hope for the best instead of forcing someone who isn't going to actually do anything to serve this country. Secondly, It violates our freedom the definition of freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. “We live in a free country and should always have free choice in certain matters, regardless of what circumstances we are in. Its America's greatest quality, and that alone shoul8=d say that we should not have a military draft.” (US, 2015) Forcing someone to fight in a war they had no claim of starting is hypocritical. That is the equivalent of saying here is your freedom, but you can only have it for a certain amount of time. Citizens should have every right to say no. It is not justifiable, what they have done in the past taking men and women and treating them as a number and once your numbers up they ship you out like they have this power over you and you have no say in what happens. If the U.S. was to reinstate the draft it would also violate the first amendment freedom of speech this says that you have every right to your opinion, which makes me think how is that right forcing someone to fight when they have every right to say no. With reinstating the draft is a given and I've mentioned it throughout my argument, not only does it affect the people being drafted, but it would affect the people around them immensely and not only that but the country itself as well. Think about all the families that have had to go through the grieving process due to the draft picking a family member who wasn't meant to fight in wars. That causes a lot of resentment towards the military and the military needs support from the citizens, not starting their own war between the two. Drafting doesn't benefit the country either. When you think military you think protection you think safety and you might even think of being secure. If I knew that people were just being picked left and right to fight in a war I don't know how safe I would actually feel. I might even be somewhat concerned about what was going to become of this nation where we contravene the rights of our citizens just so that we have a bigger military. The economy can be affected too according to Polzin “Taking 18 to 22 years-old out of our civilian economy will constitute a drag on our economy.” (Polzin, 1999). If the Military pulls many 18-22 year olds that puts a heavy toll on our economy and it cause serious consequences for our nation. If we were to reinstate the draft it would be downright insane you are asking for a whole lot of chaos if you really want people rebelling against the military because they have violated the rights that we as citizens of the United States are given at birth.
“Although conscription has been widespread throughout history, few major world powers have compulsory military drafts today.”(Richards, 2010). This is another major reason why we shouldn't reinstate not many other countries follow the draft and that might be due to the fact that it causes multiple problems. Even having a thought of reinstating the draft is mad what comes down to it is really our safety and the future of this country. If we as citizens are allowed to make our own choices and not be dictated and pushed around as if we are under some dictatorship where we are told what we have to do for this country then peace and harmony should run throughout this country. I guarantee, however, that if the citizens are pushed over the edge that there will be some serious hell to pay and it will not be the greatest moment in this country. Think of those three cons it is better to have citizens that want to fight, then ones that have no urge to fight, it will violate rights that citizens have every right to, and it will not benefit this country not even the slightest. It might even cause some massive tension and chaos between the citizens and the military if the United states were to reinstate the draft. Although some may think that reinstating the draft would solve problems the only way we will solve problems and have a stronger military is if we let U.S. citizens decide if they want to fight or not. That being said the best option is to not reinstate the draft and that would solve many problems the U.S. has began to
face.
An accountant might not be very great at shooting an aiming, but he will help the government budget the money to purchase more guns and weapons. Then again, a renound marksman would be better in combat, or even someone who went to a state shooting event and won over the whole state. Any one in shooting sports in fact! They'd be good at aiming and hitting. Someone with people skills could communicate for the army, but maybe she can't do the technical stuff of getting radio signals enough to make the phone calls and emails. The draft eliminates the ability for Americans to choose, and they are forced to serve in the military, when if they had a choice they might pick something still very helpful, but not dangerous or completely obnoxious for them. By reinstating the draft the government would kill the freedom of choice, everyone has a relatable skill set that could in some way benefit the government or military. So if the draft did come back, maybe they could change it so you can pick which job you'd like to train
Career Research Paper: Army National Guard. The Army National Guard is a whole new way to serve. It’s all about commitment to help communities in need. It’s a solid dedication to the country in war and in peace.
If there was a draft, there would be a lot more men and women out there fighting to keep our country safe so that we can continue to lay down at night and not be afraid of what might happen to us when we do. Our military is strong, but if there was a specific number of men joining every year or so, our numbers would be higher, therefore increasing our strength. Being in the military is something to be proud of, and those that join on their own are good people, but anyone that goes out and fights, draft or not, is still a good person and should have our respect. Most people see commercials on television about the armed forces and think that it might be a good thing to go do, I know I have, but some might not put any more work into it after they see it the first time. Having a draft would get rid of that part of them that doesn’t want to get up off the couch and
People who support the military draft will say that it is the obligation of every citizen of the United States, and every other person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of 18 and 42, to perform a period of national service. Aren?t there many other ways--less deadly ways--to contribute to the country?s well being? Should we, as citizens, be allowed to evade this ultimate obligation by turning it over to the poorer members of society, those who can't find good-paying jobs or training except in the military? In "A War for Us, Fought by Them," William Broyles, a Vietnam war veteran and the father of a young man who is a soldier in the Marines, argues that the military draft should be brought back, and this time it should be done right: everybody should be drafted, not just ?the profoundly patriotic or the economically needy" (Broyles 695).
But in 1980, President Carter reinstated the draft in a way, stating all men born after January 1, 1960 were require to register with Selection Service, but this was not reinforced after about he of 1986. Today, the question is debated about whether or not we, as Americans, should reinstate the draft. Those in favor of reinstating the draft argue that our country would be safer, those drafted would learn important lifelong lessons and build characteristics that today’s generation has lost, and Americans would learn to appreciate more, something our society has forgotten. Those who oppose the draft argue that there would not be many, if any, families that are not military based and have to worry about loosing people in their family. Reinstating the military draft is
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.
I never thought I would say this but I think we should reinstate the draft. It has been years since we have wanted or needed a draft, but in view of the United States being attacked on September 11, 2001, I feel our country must be ready and prepared to defend itself. If being prepared means reinstating the draft, a mandatory summons for military service, then I think we should consider this a reasonable proposal. I think the tragic events of September 11 will evoke most people to agree with me. Since September 11 we have seen a surge of patriotism in this country that seemed hidden for many years. I am so glad patriotism was not lost, and I think most Americans would be willing to defend their country in light of this attack. We are a nation and a people who believe in freedom and democracy. It tells other nations who we are and what we stand for. It is these beliefs that lead me to believe that the people of the United States will do anything to preserve our freedom and democracy even if it means reinstating the draft. I want to prove this notion, but am unsure how to accomplish this. I have not read any recent articles in newspapers or magazines that have dealt with this issue. My textbook was not a source either. So I decided to do two things. First, I went to the Internet for any information, articles, discussions, or statements relating to this issue. Second, I decided to conduct an informal poll. This informal poll consisted of male and female respondents with an age span of eighteen to sixty two. My poll started with classmates in my Western Civilization and Studio Art classes and the professors who instruct these classes. My poll included emailing friends and family who live and work in New York, family currently serving in the Armed Forces, and a family member who is a Veteran of the Viet Nam War. Also included in this poll is a random sampling of the townspeople of Los Alamos. Medical personnel at Los Alamos Women’s Health Services, and the lunch crowd at Café’ Allegro rounded out my poll. This cross section of Americans evoked many feelings and opinions and stimulated many conversations and critical thought. These conversations exhilarated me and the results I obtained amazed me.
If people do not believe in what they are fighting for and are drafted into a war they do not want to fight, people will not fight with honor for their country. Being drafted into a war someone does not want to fight causes him or her to fight that war to escape with their life, not to earn a victory for their country. The United States intervened into Vietnam to try and stop the spread of communism into South Vietnam (HISTORY.com,. "Vietnam War History). They declared we needed a draft to help supply troops to fuel the war against communism, but in the end the result was the same. The Draft was an unneeded part of the Vietnam War. If the draft would have never been introduced less protestors to the war would have risen and more volunteers would have came forward and sent to Vietnam. When American troops were beginning to be withdrawn from Vietnam, it was not because of a lack of troops, but from a lack of support (Walpole, Andy.). The lack of support and the idea of and unwinnable war was the cause of a slow end to the terrible war efforts. The American ideals changed from the start to the finish of the war, hating the soldiers when they came back. The last troops did not return home from Vietnam until 1973(Walpole, Andy.). This vast difference in time between the first troops to leave and the last troops to leave was the cause of much resentment among the
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.
“First, conscription doesn’t save much cash. It costs money to manage and enforce a draft- history demonstrates that not every inductee would go quietly. Conscripts serve shorter terms and reenlist less frequently, increasing turnover, which is expensive. And unless the government instituted a Czarist lifetime draft, everyone beyond the first ranks would continue to expect to be paid” (Forbes). Even though “The military not only provides training in a range of specialties; it also offers educational benefits for veterans-- including many from underprivileged back grounds-- that might not be available under a mandatory
Over forty years has passed since the United States inducted the last draftee through the Selective Service System. The Selective Service System is an independent agency of the United States, which gives the President the right or power to conscript men for military service. There have been different Acts passed by congress since 1917 that require men of various ages to register for service. Although, the name of each Act and the age requirements of the registries changed, the Acts were all similar in nature. They all gave the President the right to call men to war when he deemed necessary. In January 1973, Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird announced the creation of the all-volunteer service, retracting the need for the draft (GAO.gov). Under current law, all men between the ages of 18-25 must register within 30 days of their 18th birthday, however this information is used mostly for recruitment purposes and in case of any future crisis. There has been much controversy over this matter since the Vietnam War, when people started to realize the draft was unfair due to loopholes and draft exemptions making the draft unfair for working men. At one point in time the military draft may have been necessary, but today’s all-volunteer military has eliminated the need for a draft.
“One of the most durable buttresses of militarism is found in the world of sport” (Martin and Steuter p. 131). Popular culture normalizes militarism in various ways, such as even a normal part of American culture as sports. Sports have done a lot of things for me in my life including changing my perspective of how I look at militarism. The military uses sports to advertise to a large group of people across America that will create a positive feeling towards war. Sports make the war seem normal to Americans when they associate it to militarism because many Americans play sports and can relate, but there are also consequences when normalizing the war. Popular culture normalizes militarism in so many ways, but the one aspect of it that normalizes war would be sports, through advertising and professional athletes, not only in a positive way, but it also recognizes the negative side of war.
..., the draft ended and the U.S. converted to an All-Volunteer military. Many people were not in high spirits about the Vietnam War, and thought we should not be involved in it. Lyndon Johnson, the 36th president of the United States, laments “[w]e are not about to send American boys nine or ten thousand miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves” (Vietnam-Facts.info). There is a popular picture of a draft protests sign displaying the words “hell no, we won’t go.” I do believe Americans should have a right to choose to go to war or not. Many young men lost their life fighting a battle they didn’t even have faith in. Many soldiers endured personal hardships, loss of income, and leaving family behind. Most of drafted soldiers complied with the draft and served; however, many middle to high-class young men found ways to avoid combat.
...itary conscription in the name of freedom is an illegitimate, criminal organization. A government that is willing to enslave people cannot be trusted to protect your liberty. A government that forces people to fight for its goals, its protection, and its benefit has created a morally perverse situation where there is no free society left to defend” (Boldin). Another thing we must look at is without an overflow of troops; “unpopular wars are very difficult to fight. The ability to use conscription actually encourages politicians to wage even more wars;the massive resources are a temptation that is hard for the war-lover to resist. When the draft was finally undermined in the 1970′s, for example, the Vietnam War ended” (Boldin).
The benefits of having a military draft are obvious. We need soldiers to fight and not every citizen is willingly going to do so, so unfortunately there have been times where the people had to be forced to fight. Many people find that this whole concept of a draft is a horrible idea. The basis of this country is that everyone is free to do whatever he or she want and to not do whatever they don’t want. You can express free religion and freedom of speech, and you can even criticize the president strongly, but then out of the blue, it is not your choice whether or not you go to war? It is confusing to think that with all these freedoms, there would still be a draft for so many years. Truthfully, it lacks consi...