3 ms·
Agreed. However, as a military officer I think this a bad idea. The US military is actually somewhat small considering the size of the population, so a mandato
by austincheney 8y ago
Agreed. However, as a military officer I think this a bad idea.
The US military is actually somewhat small considering the size of the population, so a mandatory draft wouldn’t apply widely enough for the mentioned benefits to materialize in a meaningful way for social change.
It would also change the internal social nature of the military by filling it with people who don’t want to be there. In addition to being a part time military officer I am also a senior developer at a really big bank. The disciplined young people in the military seem substantially less entitled than some junior developers I have worked with. In the military I can choose to raise performance standards for the people I manage, but in the civilian world if you try that people will bitch and go get a different job.
- badrabbit 8y agoI heard most recruits join for the college money anyways? When the country goes to war,it's this class of people that fight and the rest of the country that doesn't take part just stands from a distance and thanks you for your service. Mandatory service can change how the country thinks about war and external conflicts.
- pooloo1 8y agoActually a very small number of those who serve utilize the benefits they have earned. Mandatory service would create a whole new environment, and likely eliminate everything listed by OP. So while I wish people could have the opportunities I had serving, it just would not work on a massive scale.
- austincheney 8y agoThe relevant question is how big must a draft be for that change to realistically occur?
- badrabbit 8y agoMandatory service isn't draft. It's "before 22yrs old,you must serve 2yrs in the military or civil service" which would rotate a few hundred thousamd "soldiers" each year (probably 70-80% of soldiers).