[caww]

There was a time when joining the military after school for two years was an honor and duty young men simply did for their ‘service’ to the country. It wasn’t a matter if you joined or not rather which branch of the service did one select.

[Alberta's Child]

There was also a time when “joining the military” meant enlisting in a state militia, not signing up for the U.S. Army. I’d say a lot of the honor and duty associated with the military should have disappeared after the Civil War when state militias ceased to exist.

[Kevmo]

It was a “duty”???

Nonsense.

Conscription removed the honor.

[rollo tomasi]

I prefer all a volunteer force plus to keep the government honest, a total private militia force. Conscription has no place in a free society.