Resurrect the Military Draft?

I know a recently married 27 year old Marine living in San Diego with his wife and seven-month old child. He has already had three tours in Iraq and one "mercy tour" to Thailand where he helped recover some of the thousands that died as a result of the 2004 tsunami. After he recovers from a scheduled surgery, he will again be deployed--this time to Afghanistan. Yes, he volunteered for the Marines, but he had no idea that he would spend most of his professional military career away from wife, child and extended family. The strain on his psyche is palpable.

The seemingly never-ending wars involving the United States military requires, I believe, the additional military participation of Americans. Using the same volunteer soldiers over and over again to fight our wars in God-forsaken places is neither fair to the soldiers nor helpful to the ultimate security of America.

While probably a DOA ("Dead on Arrival") proposal, Congress should have a serious discussion about renewing a limited military draft to supplement our current volunteer military. Not only would it provide much-needed additional soldiers to relieve the merry-go-round of deployments abroad, but it would also force Americans to think deeply about the nature and purpose of armed conflict and whether this nation can always be the police force for the world.

As a young Army officer during the Vietnam conflict (let's be honest and call it a war), I remember only too well the negative military feelings engendered by draftees and those worried about the likelihood of being drafted. In some ways, however, this was a healthy aspect of free people living in a democracy. The inevitable tension that develops between military volunteers and draftees can be both good and bad.

Other nations take different approach to military service. Israel, for example, requires all males at a certain age to serve on active duty for a period of time, and then remain in the ready reserves for a number of years thereafter. Their philosophy being that everyone benefits from national security and, therefore, everyone (females are primarily excluded) must sacrifice through limited military service for the common good.

Resurrecting the military draft is somewhat akin to a politician touching the third rail (Touch the electrified rail and you die!). Foolish though I may be, I sincerely believe that the American public would appreciate having our elected leaders discuss the concept and, possibly, implement at least a limited draft. If we can have a vigorous debate about the need for expanding health care in this country, we should be able to ask how much of a sacrifice we can expect our volunteer soldiers--like the young Marine mentioned previously--to make for us.

Coming Soon. . .

1. Roses and Thorns awards (January 12th)
2. Where are our private sector leaders?

Comments are always welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail abriancalhoun@gmail.com