Bring Back the Draft
Over the years there has been an ebb and flow of arguments on whether to bring back the draft or leave it as a completely volunteer military. I think there are good arguments either way. I'm not writing this to give voice to both sides. As you have probably seen by now, I'm opinionated. In many things, I'm close-minded. I had a good friend, and a great pastor, once tell me, "If you're right, you can afford to be close-minded." I agree; and since I'm right, well...
I served 12 years serving in Army Intelligence as an interrogator, a counterintelligence agent, and as a recruiter. Most of those I came into contact with were volunteers, like I was. A few that I met were draftees who had continued reenlisting when their obligated time was over. Interesting thing: Every single person I met went through the same basic training that I did. In order to understand anything past this paragraph, let me go into that training a little.
Our great military has been training people in roughly the same way for over 240 years. They're very good at it. Here's how it worked in 1985, when I went through my eight-week Basic Training. Side note: The Army uses Basic Training, while other services say Boot Camp - it's the same thing. Anyway, you have three Drill Sergeants (DS) while in Basic. The first one, you'll remember forever. Mine was Staff Sergeant Bevil. He stuttered a little. We got off the bus and lined up on the yellow foot guides in formation. He started in, "M-m-my name is S-s-Sergeant Bevil. That r-rhymes with devil. Th-that's who I am." As new recruits, we are all scared. We've heard horror stories from our friends and family. When a lot of people are together and scared, that fear manifests quite often as striking out and fighting. The DS knows this. The first DS' job is to make you all hate him together. He's good at his job. He turns that fear into a group-directed hate towards himself. This goes on for about two weeks. The second DS will step in at this point. His job is to now take this 'cohesiveness of hate' (maybe I should copyright that phrase) and turns it towards learning. You now work together in your hatred and he will begin to guide your unity to the various things you need to learn: Basic Rifle Marksmanship (BRM), proper radio procedures, effective battlefield first aid, Army history and traditions, Drill and Ceremony (D&C) - marching and other unit movements, etc. This list is long and distinguished. The point being, you've learned respect for your first DS and now you've learned how to work as a team to a common mission with the second DS. The third DS now comes in for the last three weeks to perfect, critique and tune you into highly effective soldiers in the greatest fighting force ever assembled on earth.
The quality of members coming out of our military is truly second to none. I will be writing a blog entry soon about complete lack of respect in our nation. This is not that one. However, I do need to state that with this complete lack of respect for pretty much anything, our future is at risk more now than at any time in our past. We not only allow this lack of respect, our press promotes it, since it builds conflict and conflict is what continues to bring in ratings, which in turn bring in advertising dollars.
Retiring from the military requires a very special kind of person. Not only are they wholly sold out to serving our country, they often are overlooked, at best, or reviled, at worst. Don't believe me? Just utter the words "Vietnam Vet" and for many people the picture of whole groups of people spitting on our returning vets comes to mind. Yes, they've been reviled at times throughout our history, to our shame. However, the retirees stayed, even in the face of this. It even take a special person to stay beyond that first enlistment. You start seeing your options disappear for real life after getting out. It's a harsh reality that even this vet deals with. How many opportunities did I let go by reenlisting twice for a total of 12 years? But the self respect I have because of continuing on for those 12 years was worth it to me. However, I don't know anyone who couldn't benefit from two to four years' worth of character building and developing commitment to your mission, or job. You'll be awarded college life credits for your time, except at any University of California or California State school.
Many employers, when given the option of two employee candidates, will choose the vet because of these intangible life skills. They know that these individuals understand carrying out orders without the fighting that comes with trying to tell a disrespectful millennial to perform a task. They know that every service-member automatically has a background check that would potentially provide a Confidential clearance, so they can be trusted with information and property. They know that loyalty is high among vets, because we still have immense respect for our former commanders, and especially our former Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO), that is Corporals to Sergeants Major who exert operational control over the military. We will be loyal - sometimes to a fault - for any boss that earns our respect.
Bringing back the draft will begin to get rid of many, if not most of the problems associated with this generation of disrespectful, entitled, spoiled brats who are beginning to come of age. Remember, I'm opinionated - and I'm right.
Love y'all. Remember to subscribe and share. Of course, if you don't agree with me, just subscribe to keep up on any future posts - I'm sure we'll agree more than you think.