Story Time w/ Tracy: My Final Paper: Compulsory Military and National Service paper

A Compulsory Military

and National Service program

The media outlets in this country are flooded daily with

reports on the country’s budget, cuts to the military, and the news of youth

across the country killing, stealing, bullying and committing suicide. Lists of the top ten cities that are theleast happy places to live, articles on the cities that have the largest

unemployment rates, what jobs have a future, and what jobs have the most

unemployed, can be found on our internet homepages almost daily. One can only

fathom what can be done to correct all of these things, much less all of these

things being improved by one program. If

the United States created a program of compulsory military and national service

the cost of military operations and other programs would be decreased, the

unity among the country’s citizens would be increased and the youth of this

country would learn invaluable life lessons.

The government is looking for quick ways

to decrease the spending of this country. The

financial struggles this country is experiencing shows that new ways need to be

discussed and implemented to close the gap.

The

budget for the Department of Defense is on the chopping block in a big way,

some say that these cuts will endanger the national security of the country as

well as our ability to continue to be the dominant fighting force in the

world. This country is only safe as long

as potential enemies know what we are capable of in a military aspect. Many

top officials are concerned that we would become unprepared to handle a

traumatic event similar to the concerns and manpower issues that we had with

September eleventh. The decrease in

funding eliminates weapons systems, and research for future technologies; along

with a reduction in manpower. By

creating a national mandatory service program, the manpower concerns would be

reduced if not eliminated. It could also

help to eliminate the costs that the branches incur for recruiting

purposes. With the mandatory service, recruiting

would not be necessary, and many of those that once thought the military wasn’t

for them could find that it is in fact something they enjoy and decide to

continue service past the allotted time.

In our current military, some members sign a four year contract and find

within the first year or so, the military is not for them. These members could

become less productive in their jobs because of this dislike yet the government

is still paying and housing them. This

two year service would eliminate that extra two years of expense for someone

that is not as productive due to wanting out as someone who wants to be there. It

would essentially make our long standing military more effective because only

those that truly want to serve would stay past the two year mandatory mark. There

are also many opportunities for volunteers to work in non-combat or

non-military roles within the Department of Defense, these positions being

filled by volunteers would eliminate some of the payroll and contracting

expenses.

Numerous programs across the country, especially those that

are non-profit organizations are strapped for cash, yet need to use much needed

funds to pay employees to keep the programs running. Many companies that are floundering in this

economy could use a boost that volunteerism would give them. It is not only an opportunity for the company

to get much needed assistance, and manpower that allows them to provide better

customer service; it is also an opportunity for the volunteer to acquire some

hands on experience that would look great on a resume when entering the work

force after their time in service. Those

volunteers with a broad degree or maybe without any idea as to what career path

they want to choose could experience several different jobs and walks of life

during their service time that would help them to decide where they believe

they will fit in life. Many could be surprised as to what they are drawn too

and been given the opportunity or experience that they would have otherwise

never had.

There are services across this country that need to be done

and are being neglected because of money.

By creating a national and military service program these projects could

get done for less money, and with positive effects on the people of this

country. Volunteerism in this country is

slowly becoming more popular, especially in these hard economic times. People

want to be involved and give back and they want to feel useful while job

hunting. That energy needs to be

encouraged, embraced and used to this country’s advantage. The organization “Volunteering in America”

conducted a study in 2010 that showed that the number of volunteer hours

increased from the previous year (DeBlasio). This shows that people are

volunteering more often and for longer hours. According to the Bureau of Labor

Statistics the age range that is least likely to volunteer is those in their

early twenties. A program like this one could increase those numbers. By

properly creating such programs we ensure the success of future generations by

providing or creating things that otherwise might be neglected and discarded;

at the same time we would be setting the example for what they need to do for

this country as they get older.

In today’s society the unity of

this country is struggling to stay alive. The creation of a compulsory military

and national service program would unite the people of this country. “Never has the U.S public been so separate,

so removed, so isolated from the people it pays to protect it” (Thompson, 35). After the last decade of being at war the

country has lost its enchantment with the military. This is in large part because 99% of the

country’s population has no connection to the battles its military are

fighting. It is that remaining one percent and their children that are

continuing to protect this country. Since September eleventh, 2.4 million

troops have fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, exactly one percent of the 240

million Americans over the age of eighteen (Thompson, 35). They return from war

torn countries, having completed their service to find a country that is as

strange to them as the third world one they just left.

." There is a wide ravine opening

between the military and the civilian populations, and that separation could

have serious repercussions down the line. Bill Gates when still the Secretary of

Defense addressed this dangerous divide in a speech at West Point. He said “Getting

this relationship on sound footing is so important because a civil-military

divide can expose itself in an ugly way, especially during a protracted and

frustrating war effort” (Thompson, 37).

In this country’s history have been

major moments where morale and patriotism were at an all-time high. Military enlistment was booming and there was

pride in serving this country. Today

enlistment in the military is viewed by some civilians as a last resort, or

something that one does when they have no hope for any other type of success. However,

by many measures the U.S. Military is better than its civilian counterparts,

and the military brags about that, making it part of its recruiting pitch. According to a Pentagon recruiting report “Today’s

military is more educated and has a higher aptitude then the general population”

(Thompson, 36). US Rep Charlie Rangel said in 2010: "What troubles me most about

the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is the total indifference to the suffering and

loss of life among our brave young soldiers on the battlefield. The reason is

that so few families have a stake in the war which is being fought by other people's

children"(Schilling). The separation

of our troops and this nation’s people needs to be stopped, the gap needs to be

closed and every American citizen needs to invest in this country.

Compulsory military service may be something of

the past in most of Europe, and a lot of countries are currently in the process

of getting rid of these programs, however they already have a long standing

tradition of honor in service that the United States has never developed. Their civilian support of the military and

the natural progression of military service in their young peoples’ lives is

already instilled in the people of its country, it may not need encouragement

or rules to keep it there. In an article about mandatory service in the Israel

Defense Forces one of the pros to this type of service was this “The IDF is an army of all of Israel.

By necessity and design, it is ISRAEL. Each family of this tiny country

surrounded by enemies has a son, a daughter, a father or grandfather, a brother

or uncle, a niece or a granddaughter who serves, thus creating an extended

network”. This is what our military should be; this is what service to the

United States should be. Some may argue that Israel’s continuous conflict with

Palestinians makes theirs a unique situation. However, the United States is

constantly on alert for its enemies that are everywhere in the world, we too

are “surrounded by enemies”. It could be said that Israel has created a culture

of war which is not present in the United States so this thought process does

not apply. But for some, for the

children of the one percent serving in the U.S Military, especially those under

the age of fifteen, we have created a culture of war. The belief that the U.S does not have a

culture of war shows the lack of unity in this country, that it is not

recognized that many of this nation’s children have grown up in the last decade

with the U.S being at war. The point of using Israel as an example of compulsory

service is because of the unity they are showing, their history of war is not

relevant, it is how they handle conflicts by self-sacrifice and willingness to

represent their country that we need to take away from it. Ari

Brussel, the author of this article goes on to say

“As long as the burden is

not felt and shared by all Americans, as long as we neither understand nor

appreciate the sacrifices of our young men and women, they should not be in

Iraq and Afghanistan. Every fallen soldier, a precious life extinguished, is

wasted if most Americans assign little if any price for the sacrifice made.

Americans on the front lines overseas are willing to give their lives to uphold

all that we take for granted so that others, their fellow Americans, can

continue their daily lives. A day will come and by necessity we will return to

these hostile faraway lands, but then the burden will be shared more equally by

all, not only by some.”

The military families of this country do not want to feel as

if the life of their loved one, which was given for the country, was in vain or

underappreciated

A national service program would unify

this country because it would force everyone to be physically and mentally

invested in its future and success. Too many people are self-centered, only

concerned with looking out for themselves.

This damages the bond that we have as Americans. This country’s citizens

need to take a bigger interest in this country’s and the world’s affairs. If more

people are serving the country they are going to care about the future and who

is running it, it could mean an increase in voters. Another benefit to

this program is that those in charge of this country, the President, congress men

and women, senators, and government officials will all have family, friends and

children serving. This would play a

factor in how quickly this country would get involved in other countries

conflicts if in doing so they are sending their own children into face the

battle. With no personal attachment the

consequences of their quick to fight decision making does not impact them

personally, or encourage them to look for other alternatives.

There are a lot of questions about the future of this country

and if the younger generations will be able to successfully succeed the

previous generations. The quality of

education is slowly diminishing, the costs of higher education rising therefore

discouraging many to continue on. Society’s

pressures are decreasing values and morals amongst the younger generations. Some adults today even question whether they

should have children because they do not want to subject them to what they

perceive to be the future of this country.

A national and military compulsory service program could be the saving

grace of future generations. Instill an attitude of fixing problems

not just complaining about them until someone else fixes them. So many in this country leave everything up to

a small number of people and that is not just from a political standpoint. Many are quick to complain but slow to

act. We need to develop a can do

attitude in this country. If something needs

to be fixed or a program created, why not just do it, rather than complain

about it and wait for others to get around to doing it. We need to help ourselves, especially in this

tough economic time for the world, because no one else is going too. If we

exalt this country’s freedoms to our children but do not show them by example

that we cherish them and need to protect them, how well will they be valued by

generations that assume they will always be there?

This program could be the motivation that our youth need to

excel in their schoolwork. If one based

their job and placement in the program off of High School grades, it would once

again give a strong purpose to achieving that diploma for those not planning on

attending college. By working hard and committing themselves to getting the

best grades possible the person can place higher and receive a better position. The training required by the military program

would instill discipline as well as create health standards and regulations, an

asset to fighting one of this country’s current battles that is obesity. Yes many will argue that this takes away some

of American’s basic rights, as it does with all military members in signing a

military contract, but perhaps that is just what some of the youth, who feel so

automatically entitled as is, need. In serving multiple years in the programs,

opportunities and experiences will be made available to them that otherwise

would not be possible. Things such as

world travel, knowledge of other cultures, learning new languages, self-

defense education, and first hand experiences that would show them how great

they have it as a citizen of the United States.

Many people could find that they want to stay in the position they are

in, or that the career they thought they wanted isn’t for them. Those not previously open to serving in the

military could wind up making a career out of it. An entire generation would

have gone through similar experiences and gained an appreciation for this

country, a bond that they will all share, and pass on to their children as they

proceed through the programs. For those continuing on to college, they will

serve their time upon completion of their degree. This would work well for those that are

unable to find jobs due to lack of experience, a stumbling block that many

college graduates face in today’s job market, and at the same time they are

providing their country with much needed service. Those that graduate college

can apply for leadership positions within the program.

Many

could compare this to the draft, and what issues it caused for the men and

their families that were called to serve their county. The hope of this program would be to

eliminate the need for a draft because at any given time you would have a

larger volunteer force then we have today. In the event that more troops were still

needed, the prior training and experience of those already out of the program

would be beneficial and allow the military to reinforce its current troops

quickly because they would not need the extensive training. It would also be beneficial in that more

American’s would be willing to come back into the military after serving their

two years, because of the unity that the program created within this nation. Now of course we must honor the liberal side

of this democratic

A Compulsory Military

and National Service program

The media outlets in this country are flooded daily with

reports on the country’s budget, cuts to the military, and the news of youth

across the country killing, stealing, bullying and committing suicide. Lists of the top ten cities that are the

least happy places to live, articles on the cities that have the largest