Military Service?

Shan

Military service is mandatory in Israel... that country has a much lower crime rate, and patriotism within the country is high, in spite of everything else they have to deal with. That being said, I have long felt that mandatory military service right after high school (no college deferments) would be a good thing. For the same reasons. For those who don't find the military a viable option for them, after their two years, can certainly get out and go off to pursue their dreams. But I believe that it would go a long way towards re-instilling pride of ownership in this great nation. Of course, I still believe they should teach the Pledge of Allegiance and say it each morning in the elementary, middle and high schools. I believe that prayer should be allowed in schools. I also believe that teachers need to keep their opinions to themselves instead of using their classrooms as their own personal forums to blather liberal anti-American garbage. (I have seen children of deployed reservists attacked by their teachers because of the teachers opinion of the military).
The concepts laid out by the book Starship Troops is also a great idea. Not only could they not hold a government job, they could not even vote unless they had served in the military. Again, a better idea than what has become of the voting priveledge as of today.

m_knobel

You should read starship troopers (the movie totally avoided the entire concept in the book). In that book the only way that a person could hold government office is to serve in the military. That would show that the person is willing to lay down their life in order to protect the ideals in the constitution. Some countries like Israel do this already (for both men and women).

Colonel

I think that every 18yo High School graduate should be required to perform 2 years of Government service. People that can at least. It can include Military service, but any service with the Government. this will help instill discipline and a good work ethic and help mature young people.
This would also mean they would qualify for scholarships and government aid after their service was done.

ARMY STRONG!

I totally agree with the 2 year minimum enlistment into Military service for all.

SSG Schramm
US Army 15 years
OIF 2003
US Army Recruiter 3 years running in Texas

JEM

I think everyone should serve their country in one way or another....be it as law enforcement, missionary, military (etc).
There are gang members and drug users in the military so I don't think joining the military would put a stop to gangs and drugs.
We stop obesity by having fitness activities at school and home.
You can earn money for college by working.
You learn pride and self worth in a healthy living environment...good parents, church, friends, teachers (etc)

KLLMLL22

I dont think 4 years, but a minimum of 2 would help many Americans get there life on the right path, as you gave an example with gangs, drugs, etc. The other side of that idea is that do you think it would take away from the one single most important strength of our military? It is that every member is a volunteered member to preserve this country as it has been for years.

Jack E

yes, but 2 years. I also think schools starting in jr high should be operated from 9 to 5 just like a real job.

alberto g

Not only that but also good discipline training.

vtjames7433

What I will say is that there isnt one person who wouldnt benefit from 2 yrs of service which is the norm across much of the world actually. However, making it mandatory wouldnt fly here. The problem with making it two years of any sort of service, like the Peace Corp, is that the discipline factor and earning of rights is removed and that is what people really learn the most from.

artilleryman89

Ya well rounding up all the liberals and killing them is a good idea to but we wouldn't do it.

sweatyshavedpits

Compulsory military service is not a good idea. We want people who willingly join the military defending our country. I understand where the sentiment comes from, but this is not a totalotarian country, yet.

Air Controller

No, I do not think it should be mandatory. The way to keep kids from getting caught up in gangs, getting obese, keeping them off drugs and giving them a sense of pride is to get their damn parents more involved in their kids lives.
We live in a world today that, sure, there are alot of single parented households that the parent has to work 2 jobs to stay afloat. Well you know what I say to that? You first responsibility is to your children. If you are tired when you come home, so what? Make time for your kids. If you know you cannot afford to have another child, DO NOT have another one. Take some personal responsibility parents.
Unplug that computer from your childs room, take out that t.v. from their room, take them get outside and actually become involved in their lives. Wow, I said it again. Become involved.
The military is not a surrogate mother, it is not supposed to be that. To force everyone to serve will weaken the military. It become an excuse for parents to do whatever they want because they know that at 17/18 that kid is out of their lives.
ACC(AW/SW)
USN ret.

N. Cognito

Conscription and freedom are mutually exclusive.

Proud

I think its incredibly wrong, to say the least, to tell 17/18 year old kids that they MUST join the military. Think of all the kids that voluntarily joined up, went to war for the protection and freedom of their country and were killed. MAKING someone do that is not right in my opinion.

It is the responsibility of the parent to instill a sense of pride and worth into their children, not the military. Its the child's choice not to get caught up in gangs and such, not the military. If they want to do those sorts of things, they'll do them. Military or not. In fact, I just had an OSI come to my door yesterday trying to locate two young airmen for narcotic abuse. See? So joining the military didn't deter them from being on drugs. Its all about the person.

blaster

ok then you should be smart enough to know that we have something called a "voulentary military" would you honestly want someone fighting beside you that HAD to be there rather than VOULENTEERED to be there.. i know i would rather have 10 guys who voulenteered covering my @ss rather than 20 who had no choice but to be there. better chances of living!

the military isnt for everybody and thats totally fine because some people honestly wouldnt be able to stomach it.

i think its good the way that it is and that maditory sh*t would just end up getting the other soldiers hurt.

and bragging about joining when you were 17 isnt going to convince anybody to join i did the same thing and all it means is that your parents signed for you to join

Chriseee S

Yeah right, no way

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