Military Draft No More
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/we-dont-need-a-military-draft/2013/02/21/fa23acde-76dd-11e2-aa12-e6cf1d31106b_story.html
Each year about 160,000 young men and women volunteer for active duty.
An additional 110,000 volunteer for the reserves and the National Guard.
In the last year of the draft, only one-third of recruits were in the top two categories, with 25 percent in the lowest.
Young people join the military for a variety of reasons: skill training, education benefits, adventure.
But the primary reason people volunteer and continue to serve is service to our country.
They seek to be part of a respected organization larger than themselves. The all-volunteer service is that organization.
The draft is needed so that military sacrifice and risk may be more equitably shared.
Ironically, a fundamental issue the Gates Commission on an All-Volunteer Force cited when the draft was discontinued was that it was inherently unfair.
Unfortunately, the majority of those who would be eligible for the draft today do not meet the standards for military service, for physical fitness and other reasons. S ome critics argue that our voluntary military does not represent the society it protects.
The force mirrors our diverse society, with black and Hispanic recruits reflecting their share of the population — about 15 and 17 percent of youths, respectively — and an increasing number coming from middle- and upper-income households, Defense data show.
Training costs are therefore higher, and increased training time means less operational performance time.
During the draft era, about one in eight stayed after his first term; with the volunteer force, closer to one in two wants to stay.
A volunteer force is also more motivated.
People perform better when their service is voluntary as opposed to coerced.
The all-volunteer force has served our nation well for more than 40 years — in war and peace, through social and demographic changes, floods,
Each year about 160,000 young men and women volunteer for active duty.
An additional 110,000 volunteer for the reserves and the National Guard.
In the last year of the draft, only one-third of recruits were in the top two categories, with 25 percent in the lowest.
Young people join the military for a variety of reasons: skill training, education benefits, adventure.
But the primary reason people volunteer and continue to serve is service to our country.
They seek to be part of a respected organization larger than themselves. The all-volunteer service is that organization.
The draft is needed so that military sacrifice and risk may be more equitably shared.
Ironically, a fundamental issue the Gates Commission on an All-Volunteer Force cited when the draft was discontinued was that it was inherently unfair.
Unfortunately, the majority of those who would be eligible for the draft today do not meet the standards for military service, for physical fitness and other reasons. S ome critics argue that our voluntary military does not represent the society it protects.
The force mirrors our diverse society, with black and Hispanic recruits reflecting their share of the population — about 15 and 17 percent of youths, respectively — and an increasing number coming from middle- and upper-income households, Defense data show.
Training costs are therefore higher, and increased training time means less operational performance time.
During the draft era, about one in eight stayed after his first term; with the volunteer force, closer to one in two wants to stay.
A volunteer force is also more motivated.
People perform better when their service is voluntary as opposed to coerced.
The all-volunteer force has served our nation well for more than 40 years — in war and peace, through social and demographic changes, floods,