Just before WW II the draft was enacted and remained through peacetime and wars until Nixon ended it toward the close of Vietnam. Until then all males 18-25 had to register. In those days, because of the magnificent achievement of draftees during the big war, no one thought of the services made up predominantly through selective service as an ineffective force. The draft was actually considered an excellent way for the nation’s youth to take on responsibility and grow in character, while the DOD simultaneously saved huge sums by token stipends.

The perception has changed by the entrenchment of all-volunteer armed services. The advantage is that with relatively high pay, along with supporting families on base, morale is higher and the troops better trained by virtue of longer tours. On the other hand, voluntary service is infinitely costlier and yet if a global hot war broke out the numbers would not be there to handle it and would definitely lead to the return of the selective service to fill the gap. Even now with a relatively limited war the armed forces are already spread thin and render the nation vulnerable.

If, as is supposed, the threat of terrorism is on everyone’s mind, then the draft of single males and females should be reenacted, if not for combat readiness, at least as supportive personnel to free regulars from pencil pushing and mess halls to be trained for combat duty. This would not only enhance the availability of combat forces on alert, but would instil a truer sense of sacrifice and patriotism among the draftees.

Copyright © 2004 Richard R. Kennedy All rights reserved. Revised: October 2, 2004.

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