At what cost? And how would this improve our military effectiveness. No military leader wants to reinstitute the draft. We have over 32 million people [men and women] in the 18 to 26 age cohort. What size military do you recommend? Can we afford it?
We can no longer NOT afford it!
My position and the basis of our (democratic) system has always been that every citizen enjoys the protection of a free Government and should owe his personal service to America's defense.
I was a draftee who served my country faithfully for a two year period and the U. S. Army Reserves for a two-year active period, then was placed for four more years in an inactive status.
While on active duty I observed faithful service by 'Regulars' and draftees.
Exemptions from military service should be extremely rare. I believe that compulsory service builds character and prepares the individual for a more fruitful life having served his nation and taught him the importance of discipline.
A draft would upgrade the quality of U.S. troops as it would give access to a cross-section of America's youth. The number of military enlistees who achieve advanced scores on qualifying tests has dropped by a third since the 1990s. In fiscal year 2000, the Army actually took in some 380 recruits with felony arrests.
This has to stop and the way to stop it is to induct.