I was reading an article about the army this morning, and I noticed it says that they are falling about 5000 recruits short. If we happened to be in the middle of a smackdown with Russia, or the modern equivalent, the military would have no qualms about drafting. But can they do this in peacetime? They need a certain amount of people to work on the engines, clean the guns, whatever, to keep the country ready for battle whenever it may occur. OTOH, the public would be outraged if the military just started to draft when there were seemingly blue skies on the horizon. What to do?
*A doctor can bury his mistakes but an architect can only advise his client to plant vines. - Frank Lloyd Wright
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Congress would have to authorize a peacetime draft. They’d be the ones taking the heat for it and IMO not likely to do so. It is a serious issue though because modern wars are not fought by infantrymen straight out of basic.
Many things that military personnel do don’t have anything to do with combat (e.g., research, medical staff, clerical work, etc.)
So, facilities can be shut down, civil servants or contractors can be hired instead (expensive), incentives can be raised (also expensive), or the standards for recruits can be lowered.
You can’t really shutdown any portion of the military during peacetime.The main goal of the military during peacetime is to train for war.Training is not cheap!
It seems to me that if recruiting is falling short,then maybe the incentives oughta be raised.In my opinion a 2 year “conscription” might achieve in attaining the numbers,but the morale and quality of conscrpts is gonna be low.Look at the Soviet military in the 70’s and 80’s.Military service was MANDITORY.From what I hear the troop quality was incredibly low.We were taught that the Soviet enlisted were taught to obey orders at all cost.Only officers can be trusted to think.
I agree that the incentives should be raised, but this can only go so far before the budget catches up with you. The military has endured enormous trimming since the days of yore, and I think this is a trend not likely to reverse. Congress doesn’t want to give them any more cash than necessary. At the risk of getting this booted to Great Debates, perhaps the US should consider mandatory conscription. Several countries do it, and I’ve heard it raises patriotism and keeps the military from getting bogged down in bureaucracy as fiercely as with a purely voluntary militia.
But then you fall into the same problems the Soviets had.Sure they had a full compliment of troops…on paper.But do you really want numbers?..or quality?
Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that the Israelis have a policy of several years’ worth of mandatory military service - and I’ve also heard that their military is anything but shoddy.
Actually, WillGolf, it was the Israeli military I was thinking of. I met some Israelis (BTW, they don’t like to be called Israelites) last summer and discussed this in length with them. They had almost nothing but postive things to say about their military experiences. They get free college, the military gets young blood.
Breck and Willgolf? Have you guys been in the service?Have you done your manditory time? Having served 6 years of VOLUNTARY military service I can say that attitudes are bad enough from the people who volunteered…let alone someone conscripted.Don’t get me wrong…I’m not totally against conscription.I just think it’s the last resort,especially in a democratic environment.
“I may not agree with your opinions,but I will fight to the death your right to express them.” Voltaire
Are things really that bad? What makes it such a miserable experience? I would think that only people who truly wanted to be there would actually join.
And I have to admit that I haven’t either. I was of draft age back during the Vietnam war and was saved by the lottery just as I was about to be drafted. My birthday drew a 352.
Breck…to answer your question. Yes,it is pretty bad.Everyone who enlisted,did so for their own reasons.Mine happened to be my ROTC scholarship fell thru,the board recommended I enlist and retest for the scholarship at a later date.
I was very happy with the training. I received 16 months of HEAVY in depth theory and operations of Naval reactor plants.By the time I had finished school and spent 6 months at sea in “the fleet” I realized this was NOT the place for me.The pay was low,the hours extremely long.I noticed alot of people felt the same way I did. The turnover rate was incredible.The Navy was trying desperatly to get the Nuclear trained personnel to re enlist.At one point they were offering 30+ thousand $ for an Nuke trained E 6 to re-up for 2 years.
Sorry to rant and rave,I just found it funny,discussing conscription with someone that really had no military background or knowledge.
I’ll get off my soapbox now…sorry.
Start the draft over again? Give people two years mandatory military service? Right out of high school? You must be joking…I think it is a great idea. Get’s people off the streets, out of a bad situation, and into something that will give them a little bit more respect for people…Be my guest.
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The problem I see with conscription is that we have too many free thinking people in our coutry that would not fit in well with military life. Although the idea of making evryone that doesn’t go to college go into the military is kind of appealing, I just don’t see putting guns in the hands of some of the people this country breeds.
<<<<<<< Although the idea of making evryone that doesn’t go to college go into the military is kind of appealing>>>>>>>>>>>>
Madpoet
Why would it just be the people that don’t go to college? I think we could use some more educated cannon fodder,poet!With a head as large as yours,you wouldn’t even need a combat helmet!
Do you know what the Army’s (and the Navy’s) recruiting standards are? 18 years old and a G.E.D. Thats it. You really can’t get much lower than that. I personally would not want someone who hasn’t even gotten their G.E.D. to be in charge of aiming the Howitzer that is firing no more than 300 yards from my posistion. While the recruiters do have tests to see how smart someone is and what jobs they may be able to perform, this doesn’t all ways work, especally towards the end of the month when pressure to meet there quota is high.
This is off the subjuct but the Navy lowered its standards to the same as the Amry’s. In order to keep up the quality of their recruits they had to lengthen boot camp from 9 weeks to 13. I don’t know if the Army is taking similar actions.
My point is that the standards the Army has set is about as low as you can go. I wouldn’t want to be fighting next to 16 year old with an 8th education level.
–Side note: The Marine Corps is the only branch of the service that still meets their recruiting quotas month after month. Semper Fi Develdogs!!!
Thats the truth and anyone who has heard otherwise has been missinformed.
Conscription? Hell yeah! Makes sure we have a standing army, gives people jobs, and gives people a worthwhile education! Conscript ME? HELL NO.
Point being? I won’t live in a country that forces me to be in the army. Don’t want to. Won’t do it.
Israel may do that, but there’s a fundamental difference between Israel and the US. US = large, rich nation with massive population and food supply. Israel = small nation beset on all sides by implacable, religious foes.
Big difference. Doesn’t compare. Same as the argument that Holland has legal pot and they’re ok, so should we. Totally different societies.
Just because another place has conscription and it works doesn’t mean it will here. Only if it works in an environment similar to the US will it be admissible evidence.
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