BuzzinSATX
Well-Known
Mandatory Military Service.
The subject, mandatory military service. this subject comes up occasionally, many thinking that serving a mandatory period of time in one of the branches of the military would be good for every young person just leaving high school. In some ways I use to believe that as well. Now, not so sure.
Just some background on my thoughts an opinions. When I was still in high school, I wanted to join the military, primarily the Marine Corps, but due to medical issues beyond my control, the USMC denied my application for medical reasons, as did all of the other four branches of the military. (Yes, I even tried the Coast Guard) But my thoughts were, that joining voluntarily made it much more personal and had more meaning in terms of doing a patriotic duty. My father tried to get me to join the Air Force and my uncle was trying to push me towards the Navy, and had my grandfather been alive, I am pretty sure he would have been steering me to the Army! Well I wanted to join the Marine Corps. partly because I thought they were the meanest toughest SOB's that ever wore a uniform and partly to aggravate my entire family. But I wanted to enlist, to be part of a special fraternity, to be part of something much bigger and better than myself.
That is why part of me disagrees with making military service mandatory. I have to wonder if such individuals could be trusted when needed, since they are being forced to be there. In my way of thinking, I'd trust someone who volunteered faster than someone made to be there from mandatory requirement. I know some people cite that Switzerland does have such mandatory requirement for military or public service, and it does seem to work there, but IMO, I think their thoughts and cultures are much different than ours and they have been doing it for many, many years now.
Part of me thinks it could be bad, but part of me thinks it could be good, instilling values and ethics into the younger generation and making them appreciate what our veterans have been through.
What does everyone else think?
It's a nice thought, but in practice, simply would not work.