Time to discuss the draft.........
03-13-2007, 07:07 PM
#11
Administrator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Stuart, FL
Posts: 24,416
Originally Posted by jenkin' post='863401' date='Mar 13 2007, 08:00 PM
OK, as an old phart who was 18 during nam, there was no joy in the draft, and as in all things, some were more likely to be drafted than others (college deferments, medical deferments, etc). I vacilated between enlisting in the marines and heading to vancouver bc.... as did most 18 year olds because who the hell knows what they want to do when they are a kid?
i think phins is right in thinking draft, except i think we should model the swiss, or at least the way i think the swiss system works. Every citizen should be required to give some amount of time in service to the country. The problem with the last 3 or 4 "police actions" is that most of us are unaffected by the conflict. WWII was a visible and palpable threat to the US way of life. Most people could see that and agree to it. Every action since has been less noticible to the populas at large.
We are a nation of 200 million + unconnected individuals. We aren't taught that we have a common heritage or that freedom isnt free anymore. Maybe if we all had those 2 years of commonality, there would be more understanding and a lot of the red vs blue crap would go by the wayside. it ain't gonna happen, but i think it would be a good thing...
my 2 cents.
Or the Israeli system, every man and woman over 18 LOL
03-13-2007, 07:50 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: central WA state
Posts: 446
Originally Posted by phinsup' post='863404' date='Mar 13 2007, 05:07 PM
Or the Israeli system, every man and woman over 18 LOL
i bet they have very few CO's, since it is fairly obvious that the enemy is at the gate...
03-13-2007, 08:07 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: lousy anna
Posts: 565
I agree with the 18+ men and women serving a manditory 2-4 yrs. The armed forces isn't as bad as people make it out to be. I've been in the Army for 5.5 yrs and seen 2 deployments (Iraq 1 and Afghan this last couple monthes). Both of which are BS. neither country wants to be like us or give a **** about us. they are just extremely poor people taking handouts. i'd be happy to feed my family for free too.
anyways, the armed forces is in a huge rut. soldiers aren't soldiers like 5 years ago, 10 yrs ago, etc. the military is letting anyone in. fat, dumb, fat and dumb, criminals, deadbeats, you name it. carnies are joining!!! one of my "soldiers" who just joined last year is an ex-carnie, and he's a waste of government money. living off the system for free.
we do have enough soldiers though without the draft. we have a rotation plan somewhere up in DOD. everyone is listed and kept track of. you have to get the same amount of time home (dwell time) as you are deployed. the reason we can't get 120,000+ to iraq is because of unit and individual dwell times.
if someone started some **** with us we have plenty of reservist and national gaurd as well as active duty sitting around waiting on dwell time (while trainin like crazy of course) to at least hold off an offensive untill everyone else gets back home to reinforce us.
i still think that 2-4 year terms in the military will straighten up our country. we'll have comon ground with everyone and some misplaced youth "entusiasm" will get burnt up shootin rifles at ranges instead of "9's" at each other. cause its cool to shoot your neighbor!!!
ok nuff rambling.
anyways, the armed forces is in a huge rut. soldiers aren't soldiers like 5 years ago, 10 yrs ago, etc. the military is letting anyone in. fat, dumb, fat and dumb, criminals, deadbeats, you name it. carnies are joining!!! one of my "soldiers" who just joined last year is an ex-carnie, and he's a waste of government money. living off the system for free.
we do have enough soldiers though without the draft. we have a rotation plan somewhere up in DOD. everyone is listed and kept track of. you have to get the same amount of time home (dwell time) as you are deployed. the reason we can't get 120,000+ to iraq is because of unit and individual dwell times.
if someone started some **** with us we have plenty of reservist and national gaurd as well as active duty sitting around waiting on dwell time (while trainin like crazy of course) to at least hold off an offensive untill everyone else gets back home to reinforce us.
i still think that 2-4 year terms in the military will straighten up our country. we'll have comon ground with everyone and some misplaced youth "entusiasm" will get burnt up shootin rifles at ranges instead of "9's" at each other. cause its cool to shoot your neighbor!!!
ok nuff rambling.
03-13-2007, 08:45 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: ummm, Oregon
Posts: 504
i have actually seriously considered joining up for 4 years or so. i mean im a 19 year old high school graduate, i do have an amazing job right now is really the only thing keeping me out of the service.
03-14-2007, 09:47 AM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: California
Posts: 22,465
Originally Posted by jenkin' post='863401' date='Mar 13 2007, 05:00 PM
We are a nation of 200 million + unconnected individuals. We aren't taught that we have a common heritage or that freedom isnt free anymore. Maybe if we all had those 2 years of commonality, there would be more understanding and a lot of the red vs blue crap would go by the wayside. it ain't gonna happen, but i think it would be a good thing...
my 2 cents.
i agree!
03-17-2007, 02:48 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: QUEENS NYC
Posts: 1,687
Well for me to get financial aid for school i had to sign up for the SELECTIVE SERVICES which can constitute as me signing up to be drafted if there ever was a draft, i am on the list to be drafted. Im down to get drafted, i have no problem with it.
What gets me upset is when ppl join the military knowing what will happen in the event of a war, then they get mad when they get sent to war. Um the purpose of the military is to protect the country which your under so if you country is going to war, then your its tool for war.
My brother is in the Marines, and he didnt want to go to iraq twice but he said i signed up and this is my job so i must fullfull it, i was like damn right bro.
Jason NYC
What gets me upset is when ppl join the military knowing what will happen in the event of a war, then they get mad when they get sent to war. Um the purpose of the military is to protect the country which your under so if you country is going to war, then your its tool for war.
My brother is in the Marines, and he didnt want to go to iraq twice but he said i signed up and this is my job so i must fullfull it, i was like damn right bro.
Jason NYC
03-17-2007, 02:52 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: QUEENS NYC
Posts: 1,687
a mandatory enlistment sounds cool, will make more ppl stop being lazy. Most of my deadbeat freinds i convinced themto join the military, and now 90% of them are better becuase of it. There not lowlifes anymore and have families and live good lives and ofcourse pay taxes hehe
03-18-2007, 03:55 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 305
I am on the fence with this one. I can see both sides of the argument. I think it is a good reason, because it makes the common man or woman more sensitive to people who are serving, and makes them understand what it takes to serve this country. It's funny the reactions to things about conflicts or policies around the world related to military action from people who haven't served in our military, and those who have. They might share the same views on occasion, but they are usually for different reasons.
So on one hand, it keeps the military quota filled, give those people responsibility for their actions, training etc
On the other hand, those same people who get drafted might be resentful, try to drop out, or just not be suited for the military and could possibly risk the lives of other soldiers.
It's a hard call either way, and the people of this country would be pretty split on it I think. I think we should avoid it unless the needs of the country, it's leaders and the decisions they make require there to draft others. A mandatory program would have to be sorted out well.
I think we would have had much more success in Iraq if we had run the campaign like we did in Desert Storm. More aggressive policies and leadership with less negative media results in better results.
So on one hand, it keeps the military quota filled, give those people responsibility for their actions, training etc
On the other hand, those same people who get drafted might be resentful, try to drop out, or just not be suited for the military and could possibly risk the lives of other soldiers.
It's a hard call either way, and the people of this country would be pretty split on it I think. I think we should avoid it unless the needs of the country, it's leaders and the decisions they make require there to draft others. A mandatory program would have to be sorted out well.
I think we would have had much more success in Iraq if we had run the campaign like we did in Desert Storm. More aggressive policies and leadership with less negative media results in better results.