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Nov 2, 2003 If you are a parent with teenagers, you have had your share of discipline problems among the many other travails raising wannabe-adults-before- their-time. My youngest just turned 18; just passed his driver's test; and is now a superior burden on my auto insurance policy. (New Jersey, no fault, highest in the nation type policy.) I came to the conclusion a while back, that military service should be mandatory for all citizens of the United States. I look at Israel. They've been able to maintain a strong defense and keep their surrounding Arab enemies at bay through a systematic program of training their entire population to fight against agressors. Those not on active status are reservists. Men and women are trained in combat actions. Everyone in the nation who is trained, holds a battle station they can fill at a day's notice. Mandatory military service for all high school graduates would help to eliminate a few recurring problems. The Department of Defense uses a disproportionate share of its budget on recruiting. Mandatory service eliminates the need for recruiting altogether. We need never see another "Army of One" or "Aim High" TV promotional enticement directed at our teenagers. The millions of dollars saved from eliminating the massive recruiting budget could be channeled toward retention in the form of tuition services for college level programs. After two years of mandatory service, these redirected funds will have garnished an Associate's Degree for every new soldier. Mandatory service would also eliminate manpower shortages for the services. As each new graduating class is enlisted, the new soldiers would be distributed to the services by critical need criteria. Based on individual scores on entry level tests, new soldiers would be placed where their aptitude would best serve the needs of the military. Mandatory service eliminates the need for families to struggle to raise funds for tuition and fees for their child's two year degree. The degree is the incentive and the guarantee. Accept two years of mandatory service, and the courses required toward your Major are assured and completely paid for. As reenlistment incentives, higher degrees and guaranteed placement would take the place of monetary bonuses. Any soldier completing a full 8 years of active service would leave the military with their Bachelor degree at a minimum and a Master degree dependent on their own initiative. Mandatory Service with guaranteed education also eases student overcrowding on major college campuses in the country. This would permit a lowering of tuition rates across the nation. It will also generate the complete equalization of the races. Every new soldier will have the same access to educational benefits and courses of study selected by them. What about children considered unfit for the rigors of military service? These children would be offered other options to serve. They could be enlisted into the Departments of Agriculture, Homeland Security, Environmental Protection, or Transportation to help clean up the nation's roads, forests and farmlands. They would be offered the same two year degree for two years of devoted work. What about children offered scholarships for institutes of higher learning or sports scholarships? These children would still be required to attend two years of R.O.T.C., or they could receive a deferrment until the completion of college and then enter into a two year contract to suport the National Guard of their home state or the Army reserve. Children who drop out of high school prior to graduating would be given the opportunity to take a GED Exam and be placed into one of the non- military departments of the mandatory program. (No Child Being Left Behind) What is the point? I work with soldiers every day in a classroom setting. Many of these soldiers are fresh out of high school or have already served at least two years. They are mature. They are respectful. They are wise beyond their years. They are disciplined. The same cannot be said for a majority of 18-25 year old "adults" who have never served. These young soldiers also care. They have dreams and hopes, but they know that when they wear the uniform, their dreams and hopes must take that back seat to ensuring the security of the country that fosters their dreams. I am so damn proud of every child that took that oath and put on that uniform. Mandatory service would help America maintain its leadership in world affairs and would raise up a new generation of Americans; respectful of their origins; knowledgeable in world events; educated at the highest possible levels and, above all, disciplined and protective of American democracy and freedom. I believe mandatory service should be considered. ------------ About the Author: Independent, Conservative, Christian. Married 29 years this month with five children raised and one grandson being raised. 30 year Army Veteran and published poet with www.poetry.com for the past 3 years. Email Michael John McCrae: michael.mccrae@us.army.mil Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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