|
Although I agree with Crewchie that "there is no heart stronger than a volunteer", it's harder to believe that nowadays with all the "incentives" the military branches are throwing out there to gain recruits (sans the Marine Corps).
I currently have two sons both serving (Army NG), one who joined for all the right reasons, the other joined more so for the bonus' offered. Not to paint a bad picture of him, he does believe in this nation and is a patriot, but the carrot that was dangled in front of his nose was truly a major deciding factor.
My daughter who also served (Navy) shortly after 9/11, joined because she was looking for direction in her life.
As to the original question, having been prior military myself, as is my husband, his father, my father, both my uncles, and both of my husbands brothers (yeah a looong line of military in this family), I DO feel that there should be a mandatory commitment of two years by all men AND women, unless there is a true medical or other such reason for exclusion. Either when they turn 18 or finish high school (some are older than 18 when they finish HS). I truly believe that gang violence would diminish, as would drug use.
Ironically, my youngest son and I discussed this very topic shortly after he graduated from basic training. He told me he didn't think it would work; his argument was that if the person didn't want to serve, they'd just keep 'screwing up' during Basic Training and get thrown out. I told him, whether or not they ever graduated from basic was irrelevant. They'd be there (in basic) for two years! Period, finished the end! His next argument was about the cost to the government to keep someone in basic for two years. My reply (and you can look up the statistics yourself) is that it's cheaper to keep someone in basic than to house them in a penitentary (which is where most gang members and drug users end up).
As an aside, the son I am referring to in the previous paragraph (conversation) joined the Army NG at the tender age of 17 while still a junior in HS. He did his basic last summer, graduated, came home and is finishing up his senior year in HS, and will return to Ft. Benning in three months to do his AIT. His plans beyond that is looking to be accepted into the Army Sniper training program, MP, ROTC (with a degree in criminal justice), or civilian police academy.
 |