Should the U.S.

Reinstate

Should the U.S. Reinstate the Military Draft? Keland Turner Kentucky State University Survey of Economics Philip Brown September 25, 2011

Should the U.S. Reinstate Should the U.S. Reinstate the Military Draft? The topic of War in the United States is a sensitive topic to many here. There are some people in the United States that are in agreement with reinstating the military draft, those who

strongly disagree as well as those whom are undecided or just have no opinion at all. Times have truly changed since the Korean, Civil, and Vietnam War when military draft was not an option. Even though times have changed war is still war and we must have the military to help defend our country. What happens when we do not have enough soldiers or we begin to lose too many soldiers during battle. These are questions that we must ask ourselves now, because during war is too late. So is it right or wrong to draft young me in to the military to protect and serve their country and if so what justifiable cause or causes do this country have in order to make that decision? Background Information on Military Draft After World War I and before World War II, former president Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Selective Service Training Act on September 14, 1940, which states that all male citizens of the United States between the ages of 26 and 35 register for the military draft. During this era the United States was facing threats of fascism in Europe and Japan, Roosevelt wanted to be sure that the men of American were ready and available to defend the United States if needed. The American people did not want to get involved with another war but since World War I was not all that old and still current in peoples mind there was little to none resistance to the draft. One my say that the draft enlistment was unnecessary because the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor the following year on December 7, 1941 (The History Channel website, 2011).

Should the U.S. Reinstate

Up until 1973, men were drafted into the military to fill vacancies that had not been filled by registered military officials or volunteers. In April 1975 Selective Service registration requirements were suspended but were soon resumed again in 1980 by former President Carter. Because of the Soviets invasion in Afghanistan President Carter resumed Selective Service registration requirements and it has since then been a requirement as a hedge for being prepared for future servicemen needed in a catastrophe (History & Records, 2002). The qualifications in drafting young men into the military have changed quite a bit since the Vietnam War. Before 1971 as long as a man could prove that he was enrolled in higher education as a full-time student he was eligible to defer school until he returned. Under the new draft law a man enrolled in college may not be drafted until he has finished the current semester and if they are a senior they may postpone draft until the end of that academic year. If a draft were needed today a lottery would be drawn which will draft young men from the ages of 18 through 25 first (Selective Services, 2003).

The Navy, the Army, and the Air Force are being challenged in meeting their required quotas to operate the force. As defense journalist George C. Wilson noted in his argument for a selective draft in Navy Times, the Navy could not fill 6,892 of its billets last year. The Army is 2,300 persons short of its recruiting goal for 1999, and the Air Force, while meeting its quota for enlisted members, is paying large bonuses, along with the Navy and Marine Corps, to try to stem the drain of pilots (Pizzo & Gold, 1999). Recruiting expenses have continued to increase over the years. In 1998, the Army expensed $11,187, the Navy expensed $5,590, the Marines expensed $5,590 and the Air Force expensed $4,161 for recruitment and advertising on every man and woman in the military (Pizzo & Gold, 1999).

Should the U.S. Reinstate Military Recruitment

Military recruitment has been quite challenging, until now. The U. S. Defense Department preferred that 60 percent of recruits that tested scored above the median on the armed forces aptitude test and that 90 percent of them have their high school diploma. Statistics show that only 61 percent met the aptitude test standards and 82 percent of Army recruits had diplomas in 2006 and in 2004, 92 percent had high school diplomas and 72 percent met the aptitude test requirements (MSNBC.com, 2008). Government officials are working hard in finding solutions in resolving military recruitment despair. Troops are desperately needed. According to several analyses, the appeal of college is what is hurting military recruitment the most. Now days most high school graduates go straight to college and dont even make military an option. Administrators are currently seeking ways of trying to attract college graduates into volunteering during war time.

Taking a step back and looking at the overall picture most military recruitment and volunteers are mostly made up of poor people. The lower class men and women of the United States are the majority people who make up our military forces whom are fighting our nation wars while affluent stay home. Enlistment bonuses and incentives do not make joining the military just that more interesting to most upper and middle class young people. Is it Right or Wrong to Draft Young Men into the Military? Roosevelts decision to make drafting young men into the military is a justifiable cause for making it legal to draft young men into the military. As government and president of this country to protect and serve this country is one of the main job responsibilities that the president has therefore drafting young men into the military is something that has to be done in order to

Should the U.S. Reinstate

keep this country alive. But one may argue that its not a justifiable cause, thats ok thought as a government official doing what is necessary to protect this country is what they will do and worry about the rest latter. It is and is not a hard decision to make on whether or not the military draft should be reinstated. Recruitment has been and is challenging for recruitment officers. Statistics show that at this point more and more high school graduates are going to college and are not giving the military a second thought especially those whom are from the upper class income bracket. Even with all the bonuses and incentives offer this new generation of men and women are just not interested in working for the military. What makes the decision hard is not being able to recruit young high school men and women whom we think are a perfect fit for the job. On the other hand what makes this a easy decision is that when America is hit in the face with war and need troops it wont be a hard decision to draft young men into the military to help fight for this country. This what this country dont want to do but when drastic measures come into play all thing change for the better of this country we all live in. Overall we want whats best for our country whether it be draft or not. This is a decision that everyone should have a say so in. Whether we want to admit it or face it we all have some kind of connection to the military and the draft affects everyone one way or another. We want to protect our country from all harm. Many will agree to disagree but I think that we all will agree that we want and need to protect our country by all means. So should the draft be reinstated, yes if we dont get the troops that we need to protect this country by all means reinstate the draft otherwise lets continue to recruit young men and women to serve and protect our country.

Should the U.S. Reinstate References History & Records, (2002). Background of Selective Service. Retrieved September 22, 2011, from, http://www.sss.gov/backgr.htm Pizzo, M. and Gold, P. (1999). Should Congress Reinstate a Peacetime Draft to Fill the Ranks? Retrieved September 24, 2011 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_13_15/ai_54359951/ MSNBC.com (2008). Fewer army recruits have high school diplomas. Retrieved September 22, 2011, from, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22779968/ Selective Services. (2003). Freedom of Information. Retrieved September 22, 2011 from, http://www.sss.gov/Default.htm The History Channel website. (2011). Franklin Roosevelt approves military draft. Retrieved September 22, 2011, from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/franklinroosevelt-approves-military-draft.