The Military Draft

By

Central Texas College
English 1301
10 February 2009

The Military Draft

The United States has not used the Military Draft since it ended in 1973. Over the last five years, there have been proposals to reinstate the draft. We have had an all volunteer Military for three decades and have endured three conflicts in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Under the draft twenty years ago the Military services were smaller yet today with the volunteer Military has met their enlistment quota to date. Even with this information, I personally feel that the Military Draft should be reinstated for many reasons. Largely in part that we will ensure to have forces to defend our great country. There is not a lot of support for the draft to be reinstated from the American public. Many feel that it is not right to put their sons and daughter in harms way in Iraq or Afghanistan by drafting them. They actually believe that our all volunteer military can meet recruitment goals and that other countries cannot defeat ours. James Jay Carafano, Ph.D. said that “returning to the draft represents a failure of democracy, not a means to ensure its future” (par. 13). The majority of Congress does not support reinstating the draft and believe that our military services should remain all volunteers. Retired General Robert Scales commented that soldiers that are drafted are more likely to be killed in action than long-service professionals (Time, par. 10). Reinstating the draft now, would cause more young men and women to dodge the draft than ever before. Most people believe that joining the military should be a decision that an individual makes on their own, not something they are forced to do. Louis Caldera, former secretary of the Army said that “attempts to reinstate the draft could tear the nation apart for zero gain—and possible a net degradation in military effectiveness (Time, par. 15). This is the same thought that many Americans have when the discussion of reinstating the draft arises. Although there is large support against reinstating the draft, there is also a great deal of support for reinstating the draft. Some say our freedom is not free and if we do not defend it then we will lose it. Reinstating the draft could help the American people if used properly. All young American should at least join the military for two years so that they may know what it is like to fight for the freedoms that all of us have. This two year commitment would not only train them in a skill that would benefit them in the job market after their military service but give them that pride that soldiers like myself hold dearly. Charles Rangel a congressman from New York stated that “fighting for our country must be fairly shared by all racial and economic groups “(Time, par.3). It would cut unemployment down, teach our young men and women to be responsible for their actions, and instill the discipline to over come life’s challenges. The military life could help many people have more integrity and support each other more during and after service in the military. They would have a more diverse view of the world as they would have traveled to places that if they had not been drafter, would never see. They would see how well we have it as Americans and that with pride, teamwork, and discipline anything can be accomplished. Even the discipline learned could cut down on crime and would make a better society for all of us to live in. Although the majority of Americans do not support reinstating the Military draft, I strongly feel it would help our country. No one wants to die in combat whether they volunteered to serve or they were drafted. You gain a sense of pride in yourself and the American life we live after serving in the military. Our youth can gain discipline and a job skill to benefit them after their service to help them and their families or future families. We could ensure that America remains the biggest and strongest country with the freedoms that we earned from defending our great country.

Works Cited

James Jay Carafano “Draft Reinstatement Is A Bad Idea.” Fox News (2004): par. 13.
“Should The Draft Be Reinstated?” Time Dec. 2003: par. 3-15.