Rolph Benitez
Prof. Kelly Mink
ENGL 102 B012
7 August 2015
All Citizens Should Perform a Period of National Service
As a whole, the United States continues to face military conflicts worldwide, especially with the more recent threats with ISIS. There are a few countries that still require young people serve up to two years of military service, such as Korea, Israel, and Chile. (“World Factbook”) Some people believe and have proposed that the United States adopt a similar policy of mandatory conscription. Gen. McChrystal states on an interview by Ron Fournier, “One of the ways we can rebuild that sense of ownership, sense of shared ownership, is through experience, and so I believe that every young person deserves—I don't think this is an onerous
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thing—deserves the experience of being part of something bigger than themselves.” (Fournier) I do believe that a two year period of national service should be compulsory for all young people. However though, by making the choice or commitment to serve that time in the military, should be entirely up to the individual. If we decide to have mandatory conscription, it will only succeed in putting unmotivated people in the military, causing the United States military to be less powerful and unreliable. Instead of only serving for the military, every eligible young person should have the option or opportunity of participating in some sort of public service that suits his or her interests, such as the Habitat for Humanity, the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps or Teach for America. (Fournier) If all eligible eighteen year olds were obligated to serve two years of public service, they would contribute greatly to their country and communities while acquiring a better understanding of the world around them. The reason the U.S. military is so powerful is because it is made up of volunteers. Every Soldier, Sailor, Marine, or Airmen fighting on the front lines for the United States is there because he or she volunteered and made that commitment to the country. If every young person were forced to join the military, then the force might not be as trained or reliable, because some of the troops might not be as motivated to train or fight. The military is an excellent place for young people to learn discipline, however some people do not have respect for the service the military provides. Nobody would want soldiers fighting in combat who didn’t really want to be there. If they were forced to do a task they don’t want to do, their performance would greatly be hindered. Although, the U.S. military is known as an elite force. Only a few people can make it through all of the disciplinary procedures and training that the military uses to prepare its forces. If anyone could join, the military would not have such an elite reputation, and the quality of military service as we know it would suffer. Young people who are unmotivated or who are physically unable to serve in the military could make the quality of military service decline, thereby making the United States a less powerful force in combat. History has proven, that it is often the quality and not the quantity of soldiers that can influence the outcome of a military conflict. For those few, joining the military might be the right choice if it complements their skills and career goals. However, others who are hesitant in joining the military service should be allowed to accomplish their duty for their country in other ways. There are many alternatives other than military service that can appeal to people with varied interests. Some people might be better at building homes for homeless people and low-income families or even rebuilding neighborhoods. Others could be on call forest rangers; if a forest fire ever happens to break out, they could be there to help fight it. Other options could include working on emergency crews in times of natural disaster or teaching in rural schools. Young people could also represent their country by doing humanitarian work abroad in programs like the Peace Corps. Through such voluntary service, each and every citizen can participate in serving the country while at the same time putting his or her skills and interests to work. Proponents of mandatory conscription note that young people who serve in the military return to their communities more worldly and mature. ("10 Meaningful Pros and Cons of Mandatory Military Service") It’s true that under conscription, young people would be exposed to people of different cultures if sent abroad and to people of different backgrounds while in training. However, this type of personal growth isn’t exclusively a result of military service. It can also be achieved through other types of service. In the Peace Corps, volunteers travel to all corners of the globe and are exposed to many different cultures while serving their country. Similarly, volunteers for Habitat for Humanity serve their own communities while at the same time developing friendships with people from all levels of society. (Merril, LSW, Merril Associates) Some argue that any sort of mandatory conscription or national service is a violation of freedom. Although we live in a free country where everyone has rights, I don’t feel that it is ok for anyone to get a “free ride.” America runs smoothly due to many different volunteer services, branches of the government, public organizations and the citizens themselves. If no one ever put the time or effort for the country, it wouldn’t be as economically or technologically developed or even as successful as it is today. Many volunteers strive to keep this country running by sacrificing years of their lives to protect and help improve it. Two years is not a long period of time when you think about it, and doing a small period of national service should be the very least we can do as repayment for our freedoms. President John F.
Kennedy asked Americans to consider not what their country could do for them, but what they could do for their country. (Kennedy) People can respond to this call in many different ways. The military service is a good fit for some, but it’s not the best choice for everyone. I believe that young people should be required and obligated to participate in some sort of national service but they should also be allowed to select which service best suit their interest. By offering this choice, we can strengthen both our public service organizations and our military, improve our country and communities, and give young people an opportunity to build skills and experience the world around them.
Works Cited
"10 Meaningful Pros and Cons of Mandatory Military Service." ConnectUS. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Aug. 2015. .
-This website provides you with the pros and cons of mandatory conscription.
Fournier, Ron. "How to Defeat ISIS With Millennial Spirit and Service - NationalJournal.com." Www.nationaljournal.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Aug. 2015. .
-The author is a journalist who interviews Gen. McChrystal on his thoughts about ISIS
Kennedy, John F. ""Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You"." US History. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Aug. 2015. .
-President Kennedy’s Inaugural Address from 1961
Merril, LSW, Merril Associates, Mary V. "Ten Professional Development Benefits of Volunteering." CharityVillage. N.p., 10 July 2006. Web. 7 Aug. 2015. .
-The authors speaks about her experience and what she thinks is the top 10 benefits to
volunteering. "The World Factbook." Welcome to the CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Aug. 2015. . -This website shows you the different countries and their requirements for their military.
Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, he suggests that an obligation of freedom is to helping foreign countries. John F. Kennedy was America’s thirty-fifth president, and arguably one of the most influential before his assassination. In his, Inaugural Address, he discussed many issues, many of which dealt with the idea of freedom. While discusses these issues, he talks about many things that, to him, represent an obligation of freedom. An obligation of freedom being understood as something that should always be associated with freedom even if it is not discussed. One of these that Kennedy talks about in his address is helping foreign countries. In his address he states, “To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge-to convert our good words into good deeds-in a new alliance for progress-to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty.” This is a promise to foreign countries south of America that have already adopted the ideas of freedom that they will have our support and help in defeating poverty as a nation. Kennedy clearly saw helping foreign countries as an obligation of
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).
The way conscription is described is that it requires every young man or woman to serve in the military service for two years. In this description, "requires" is only a euphemism for "forcing". A requirement simply means it is not optional, which is exactly what forcing includes. Demanding that a young person change his or her life is immoral and should not be added to our society. Even if our country did not have freedom as our foundation, conscription would still be an iniquity.
Generally, reinstating the Constitutional draft would solidify the meaning of being an American citizen. Often, wealthier and more privileged people are able to ask for exemption from serving, which makes representation of soldiers in combat composed of less-privileged citizens. With compulsory conscription, all American citizens, men or women, ages 18-26 are subject to be recruited for the armed forces. In fact, only 4 members of the 107th Congress who voted in favor of the Iraq war had children serving there. Politicians would know how it feels to have loved ones in a war, instead of freely speaking about wartime without experiencing it in any way.1 Moreover, Americans feel that public support for war in foreign countries is not strong because the soldiers fighting are p...
But the point is we need to keep reminding each other and never forget about it. We need to repeat this so much that when we hear it again we have it memorized and we have no doubt about it. Kennedy used this to support his claim and put the nation as a whole to do things together and never be in doubt of their goals and have the common knowledge set in mind. So when you look over to the inaugural speech there is no doubt that the usage of ethos was on point. His morals about religion and doing stuff that led to the right way became very keen. “ With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth and to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.” (Kennedy, 1961) Kennedy always saw the belief the people had in him. Everyone looked up on the family to see what they were doing and tried to do whatever they were doing. He acknowledged all the things he had to do and made it pretty clear that he received good respect from his voters. He gave power to the people. When people looked up on him they saw how much he cared. When the Vietnam War was heating up he tried his very best to keep his words very straightforward and honest. He used pathos in his speech through the usage of the phrases, “ a celebration of freedom,” and, “ forge against these enemies.” By using these phrases, instead of making the war a task for the people, he made it out as saving the country for the people and for their kids. It wasn’t just a "go and fight," but more of a "go, win, and when you come back enjoy what you have accomplished." “ Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country.” (Kennedy, 1961) This quote by itself has showed up in textbooks, general literature, and other writings probably more than any of the
“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
With famed verses like, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” Kennedy makes the spectators feel inclined to make an impact in the world they live in. Apart from infusing a sense of obligation in the crowd, Kennedy’s greatest element in his speech was the aptitude to arouse a feeling of esteem in the audience. Kennedy constantly uses phrases about freedom and sovereignty to remind the people they still are. “The heirs of that first revolution.” This dialect portrays America as a powerful and patriarchal republic that possesses greater philanthropy than all the other nations around the world.
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.
...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 U.S. military is a strong force and body that protects and serves the American people. Many people support the military and some even disagree with it. What people forget is that without a military the U.S. would be totally over run by foreign countries claiming ground. The military also helps with the nation’s economy boosting the balance of money in the works. Families have trouble with members who serve since there is always chance that they never return but it is because of their service that we are still a free country. Even though the military causes pain to families when a loved one is lost, the U.S. needs a military because with a military the economy increases and that without a military we would be invaded by a dictator or foreign
"A young man who does not have what it takes to perform military service is not likely to have what it takes to make a living." When joining the military you must perform your best to protect our country. Tons of men and women around the world fight for the country and make a career out of it. There are three major branches and many different jobs to go with each one. Each have many specific tasks. (Robbie Hughes Interview)
Being a military child and wife for 19 years has made me so much more patriotic, than a lot of other I know. It has made me more aware of the freedoms we have, why we have them, and the sacrifices that have been made by others so we could keep them. A world that people seem to forget about if they do not watch the news and one that they do not know much about. Not only do come civilian people not consider what current military families go through on a daily basis, but also we forget about those military families in the past during other wars that helped give our country the freedoms we have today.
Mandatory military service, which is also known as military conscription, should be mandatory in the United States. Military conscription, a very tentative, subject among our country, have some who are for it, including all the benefits it has to offer and some who are extremely against it wholeheartedly. Many governments in history have used this strategy to build a large and powerful military that will be ready and developed in times of war and distraught. For example, the Qin Empire of China in 221 BC and the France during the French Revolution in the 1790s; Iran, Greece, Russia, South Korea, and Egypt are some of the countries that still use this tactic.
Mandatory military service is a course to make a fit and capable citizen. First of all, military service can help one's character . More specifically it gives good tools so that people can work well in a team, be more organized in everyday event and good discipline. Secondly, it can offer education to people in need. Furthermore it will help people in bad neighbourhoods or is living trough a thought time and give those without the means to be in a home and have a job. Thirdly but not least mandatory military service could be looked at as a dept owed to one's country, loved ones who are protected if ever needed and most important to our right to democracy.
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.