An Idea: Mandatory Military Service for U.S. Citizens pt 1

This is an idea that I found it difficult to accept, but even harder to deny for it's benefits.

Historically, to have the benefit of a say in your government, you were expected to provide military service when the state demanded it.

The concept: Upon graduating high school, the citizen has 365 days after receiving the diploma to enter into military service for 366 days. The alternative to serving is to live abroad (not including Mexico or Canada) for a year.

The government cannot extend the service longer then 366 days, unless the country is in a recognized state of war (which can only be recognized by an act of Congress).

Any branch of service (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines) and any job the citizen can qualify for (some are smart enough to be nurses, some dumb enough to be gas station attendents) are open to the citizen and cannot be denied. However, if the military branch has the demand, they can re-train the citizen into another job class as the needs of the military need.

A challenge to this notion can be "What if the citizen does not want to be there or to give military service?" The military already has people who "don't want to be there" and it still functions, even with disruptive, non-complaint service members.

Also, military service should not be "looked down upon." It should be considered by the public at large as the basis of our democracy, that to enjoy freedom, you must defend it. The military is an honorable profession, the job of liberators and heroes. It can be the profession of death, but the leadership (i.e. Congress and the President) will have to be clear in how they use the military in any endeavor. (This will hopefully keep the U.S. government from using the military in unnecessary and frivolous ways.)

Ultimately, service (or living abroad) creates in the citizen the idea and reasoning that what "we" have in the U.S. is special and amazing, that others do not enjoy the same rights and privileges, and that we should not take for granted what we have, especially when it comes to voting. Voting and abstaining from voting will take on new meaning, and politicians will (hopefully) no longer be able to easily sway segments of the population with flashy words of fear.

(Yes, I read "Starship Troopers" and realize that, un-checked, the government could create an "endless war scenario" to further political gain, but since the media [aka "the fourth estate"] will also have served as military service members, their credibility and dedication to "do the right thing" will give them tenacity for the truth and integrity in reporting it.)

One out of three black Americans will go to jail.
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm
"an estimated 32% of black males will enter State or Federal prison during their lifetime"

This number is very likely due to racism, not what some racist people would call "a genetic defect in the race." It is also a problem of poverty, which many black Americans suffer. And as many black leaders have noted, there is a lack of good role models to black youths.

(Realize, this is just information I am putting forth, and a possible solution. I am opening and encouraging discussion to solve a very serious issue addressing the American population, and I personally feel the root cause of the problem is racism, which is why we may not see a non-caucasian president in our lifetime.)

A guaranteed job for all of the nation's citizens, with access to universal health care, and training (you can even call it "thought control") on proper behavior (sexual harassment, equal opportunity, sexual transmitted diseases, money management, etc).

Ideally, military services gives everyone a taste for "serious responsibility" while at the same time holding the hand of the citizen to the point where the citizen overcomes their fear and is willing to put themselves forward and know what they are doing with their lives.

Everyone would come to understand the world, and their place in it. A problem you see with people not knowing "where Vietnam/Iraq/Somailia/Sudan/Rwanda/Bosnia/Afghanistan is on the globe." Also, the universal experience of military service (or living and working abroad) will further bind the country together, making the citizens realize the importance of what the U.S. stands for.

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Tags:

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• mandatory
• military
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• united
• state
• citizen
• vote
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• army
• marine

[TEHVANDAL]

sounds like a fascist ploy to me. as a Communist, I REFUSE to serve in any military that does not support my ideas.

The military branches exploit their soldiers just as corporations exploit their workers. we have so many people we shouldn't need to have a mandatory enlistment. if we weren't going to war with every fucking country in the world right now, my point would be even more reinforced.

[xxmonickkkkaxx]

No thanks not willing to die for Israel.

[kjnewman13]

What about a non combatant military kinda like a manlier military version of community service

[fhetty]

News flash genius, you can recieve education while in the armed forces, all while provong that you are an honorable man or woman by choosing to wear the uniform...and yes you are a coward, plain and simple. When you choose to serve in the armed forces, you pledge to protect your country from all manner of threats, whether they be imminent or vague. You dishonor every soldier alive or dead. You don't deserve the freedom you enjoy and obviously take for granted.

[zune0101]

@fhetty I'm sorry i just can't seem to understand why someone wold refuse to send their kids to school and rather call coward a dad who just wants his little girl to have an education. As for protecting the the country from what? terror? Until i see a real declaration of war we are just fighting an idea. These wars are like the war on poverty and drugs. You think our forces are incompetent enough that they require force sign in i think not. I think our forces are way better than that.

[fhetty]

@zune0101

Translation- "I am a spineless coward who isn't man enough to sign on the dotted line in the honorable pursuit to serve and protect my country."

[zune0101]

@fhetty You know there is this magical place call University where you can learn all of that and more, while also preparing professional knowledge for life without the risk of dying in combat. I refuse to serve in any country without a legit declaration of war. We should be teaching our kids to go to school and become better professionals. We need doctors, lawyers, and teachers more than we will ever need soldiers.

[fhetty]

As a military veteran, my views on this are somewhat bias. I am four year vet of the United States Air Force and found my experiences while in the military as an invaluable asset to my civilian life. However, mandatory service in my opinion should be a no brainer. It would give these young kids a chance to make something of themselves and get alot of them off the streets and into a uniform. Giving them a trade to learn, and some pride and dignity.

[xIegionx]

I think they should initiate it at gradeschool and work its way up. I think it was a film saw where everything was the military. Every job was somehow affiliated to it. Damn I forgot, but the next closest thing I was thinking was Starship troopers.

[Dogmeat1950]

@TEHVANDAL  you need to read Starship Troopers. it shows and tells what a true Citizen is.