Portland, Tennessee Blog

I think that everyone should serve at least 2 years after getting out of high school. I did when I graduated and it helped me in so many ways. There is no telling how bad I could have screwed up my life if I hadn't served. That's just my opinion and I know everyone is going to be different.

I'm a little late here, but I just recently became aware of this site. So, my two bits on the draft:

I first entered the Air Force in 1974, and was one of the last to have to register for the Viet Nam era draft. Having served in both the draft era, and the all volunteer A.F., I can state without reservation: NO DRAFT! The comparison between the 1974 Air Force, and the one I left when I retired in 1997 was unbelievable.

In 1974, many in the Air Force were there because it was a better option than serving in the infantry in Viet Nam. The attitudes, skills, and motivation of many of those in uniform was less than ideal for a fighting force. Drug use was common, and the penalties for same were sometimes ludicrous. An airman who lived a few doors down from me was busted numerous times for pot. After the third arrest, he was basically told to quit or get out. He opted for the latter, and was given an HONORABLE discharge!

In 1978, I opted to leave the A.F. and join the civilian workforce for a time. Jimmy Carter was the President, and it was obvious the military was going to be cut to the bone.

After Reagan was elected,I reentered active duty in 1980. The change I saw was remarkable. Zero Tolerance for drug use had been put in place, and enforced, and the airmen I had the privelege to serve with were amazing! Why? They WANTED to be where they were. Be it an aircraft mechanic, a weatherman, or a communications specialist, these folks were dedicated to what they were doing. Be it patriotism or simply a chance to learn a skill and earn money for further education, most wanted to be where they were, and their performance showed it.

Today, almost all military jobs require a high degree of technical ability, and a good deal of basic intelligence. To implement a draft now would do little but weaken our Armed Forces. If we are going to force people into service for our country, don't turn to the military to take them.

There should not be a draft. There should be automatic, mandatory public service for all citizens ages 18-21 (minimum), whether in the military or Americorps, or some other public service. This should be a prerequisite to college. Public service should not be by chance in a lottery drawing, but for all citizens.

We have lost much of our sense of nationalism, and it is not simply a case of illegal aliens coming into our country. We have raised a generation of citizens who do not contribute, and we need to change that. Everyone should have a vested interest in the safety, security, and future viability of this country. We cannot simply do our own thing in life and expect someone else to step up to the plate and bat for us. We need involved citizens.

If more people were directly involved as I am suggesting, our President and Congress would be more in tune with the populace, and less likely to embark on an Iraq-styled endeavor without the consent and support of the people.

In WWII, everyone was involved in the war in some fashion. Some fought, others worked in factories, and others supplied valuable services (medical, for instance). Everyone had a sense that the country (all of it) was at war.

After WWII, that sense of national pride forged an industrial and technological revolution that has changed the world for the better. It would be a terrible thing to lose that destiny built by such a generation.

In L.A. it's something like 80 percent of current murder cases involve illegal immigrants, it was in the L.A. Times last week.

Here and intersting stat, I believe it was the New York Times where I read this...

Illegal aliens kill more Americans every year....(Nearly 14,000 every year). This is more than the number of soldiers that have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan COMBINED!!!!

Now you tell me where the real war is! All the more reason to secure our own boarders.

A bit off of subject but I felt it was worth the thought.

I can't find any updated stats, best I could find was early in 2005 where the number was over 200. One site said the rate was a third higher than in peacetime. This is a pretty good site globalsecurity.org

ATTN: Daniel

Please give me the facts to what you said about our U.S. Soilders who have committed suicide. Oh, I'm sure there are some, but they joined on their own free will, peace or war, they joined. So please give me the facts to what you said. As far as the draft goes, I'm kinda like this, if they are 18 to 25 and are getting into trouble all the time, send them into the Army, it will make them a man. Another thing no one has said anything about, what about the 18 to 25 year old girls? Hmmmmm, are they going to draft females as well? Makes you stop and think now huh. What do you all think?

I agree with Terry.

I have already served my country. I like the way Germany does it.
Everyone between 18 and 21 serves 2 yrs in the military. I think it would teach skills and respect to some of the younger generations. It might also help with our outlook on world affairs if some of those in office had their kids in the military.

Iran is powerful enough to keep Iraq a terrible place for the U.S. More than likely last week's assasination of a member of Lebanon's cabinet was from a group working for either Israel or Iran. Iran is not Iraq, they are much more powerful and probably are close to having a nuke already. We cannot win a middle east war without middle east allies, just ask Israel. Their country is still attacked constantly. As far as military service being good for everyone, I highly disagree. Look at the amount of U.S. soldiers who have committed suicide in Iraq. My cousin is going to Iraq in May and I respect his decision, but it's definitely not for everyone, unless we're going to become the 21st century Sparta.

I disagree with Daniel as far as having an agreement with Iran.How can you make an agreement with a madman who speaks every other day about wiping out the country of Israel?That would be like giving the schoolyard bully your lunch money every day.If you think for a minute that he would not give a nuclear weapon to someone who would do us or Israel harm then you live in a fantasy world.The wars that are fought from now on will not be black & white.We will not be able to discern our enemy the way we did in WWII and Korea.As for the draft,I have a 17 year old son in whom every day is my focus.He is considering a stint in the military and is currently waiting on an answer from the Naval ROTC.I am very proud of him for the choices he has made.Maybe if most young men did a stint in the military there would not be as many disrespectful,irresponsible young men in our society.

I completely diagree with any talk of a draft...what good would that do?? We have plenty of people who have already have signed up to go over and yet they are only stationed here in US somewhere..why force people who may not want to do it? Especially all the people who are against the war completely..I certainly don't want someone who doesn't want to fight fighting for our country..signing up for the Army,Navy,Ect. is something you get a calling for in your heart..not from the president..

I agree with Joshua, the draft should only be in place for homeland attacks not oil money and I'd favor a social type draft first where people can do something besides fight. We all know what happened in Vietnam, in a lot of cases the rich and well to do skipped the draft, what will change if we add it now? Our best chance at peace in the middle east is not a draft but making an agreement with Iran.

Please don't push our young men and women into something they might not want to do. I think at this time our country can do fine without the draft unless they keep sending our soldiers to war and then sending them back in body bags.

That's just what our country needs now. This country is going down hill quick. Now don't get me wrong I'd fight for our country but not for the reason were in war now....

I am a vet. I am a strong believer in the military. But I believe stronger in the fact of freedom of choice. Not all People are ment for such a duty nor should they be forced to fight what they do not believe. Believe me, even if we are few, we are American soldiers first and foremost. Revive the draft for homeland attacks, not overseas freedom.