Poll: everyone should be in the armed services?

amiamish

Do you think everyone should have to go into the armed force (peace corps, army, miltary...) for at least 2 years? Say, graduate high school then 2 yrs in, then you can quit if you want or continue. Anything from cooking, sewing, fighting, something?

Or maybe juveniles with a repeat record (drugs, theft, other) should have to enlist for 2 yrs? 

just a random thought I saw on FB and wanted the educated opinions of you guys.

amiamish

no comments?! Really?? Do I need to make this click, are you guys afraid to say what you think? (you won't hurt my feelings)

Littlejen22

Not as long as we can have a volunteer military.  But I do agree that those are skills all kids should learn, I am not beyond making them mandatory in school not that it would never happen now.  I would love for my kids to take a manners class when they are older too, our county offers one which partially makes me laugh but I am so glad one of my business classes in high school taught me manners like how to set a table.

EliseB0323

No. The military does not want or need everyone to serve. Right now, only about 25 percent of young people even qualify to join the Army due to health reasons, crime, or lack of a HS diploma, and the Army has no problem recruiting enough people. Plus the military is downsizing. I would support opportunities for national service, but I do not think we need it to be mandatory at this point.

penguingrrl

I really like the idea of people being required to give up a year or two to serve their community, no question. That said, I see two serious issues with required military service. As a pacifist I absolutely don't believe in owning or using weaponry and would not be comfortable being required to do so. I can also see people who have legitimate complications with being required to move somewhere in order to serve their time. Aging parents who need them for support, children they had at a young age or other personal issues could make traveling to do their service difficult for some people. But, if they could find a way to work around issues such as these, I think that being required to spend a year or two in service to your country would be a really great thing and provide a set of values that many people in this country do seem to lack. I think it could help rebuild a community sensibility that seems to have gone by the wayside.

That said, given that in this country people do their absolute best to avoid a few days of jury duty, I'm guessing a requirement like this would not go over well.

veloelle

I'm torn. I think military could be a good opportunity for youths that have been in/out of trouble. I worked w/ a guy who was in Vietnam and won the bronze star. He had one too many run-ins with the local sheriff. He was given the option of jail or military. He chose military and it probably was the best thing that happened to him. He was a good guy, had a good job and lived a straight life. 

A more recent co-worker served 4 years in the Navy. He said he'd never re-enlist in the Navy (would choose a diff branch), but at the time he said he needed a swift ass-kicking and the Navy did it for him. He said it was definitely a good thing for him as a young punk. Now he's in college and just bought a house w/ his GF.  He also said it was a great way to save $ since his housing and meals were paid for, he didn't do stupid shiit on shore, was able to put $$ back. 

 

EliseB0323

penguingrrl:

I really like the idea of people being required to give up a year or two to serve their community, no question. That said, I see two serious issues with required military service. As a pacifist I absolutely don't believe in owning or using weaponry and would not be comfortable being required to do so. I can also see people who have legitimate complications with being required to move somewhere in order to serve their time. Aging parents who need them for support, children they had at a young age or other personal issues could make traveling to do their service difficult for some people. But, if they could find a way to work around issues such as these, I think that being required to spend a year or two in service to your country would be a really great thing and provide a set of values that many people in this country do seem to lack. I think it could help rebuild a community sensibility that seems to have gone by the wayside.

That said, given that in this country people do their absolute best to avoid a few days of jury duty, I'm guessing a requirement like this would not go over well.

Who would pay for everyone doing community service? It's a nice idea, but would cost a lot of money the government doesn't have.

Angela814

I think it's an awful idea. Just like college isn't for everyone, I don't think military service is for everyone. And knowing someone who is an addict, I would not want him anywhere near a weapon. Addicts lie constantly. There's no guarantee that they would serve well, listen to orders, etc. I think one of the great things about this country is that we're all free to choose our own path in life.

Zenya

Angela814:

I think it's an awful idea. Just like college isn't for everyone, I don't think military service is for everyone. And knowing someone who is an addict, I would not want him anywhere near a weapon. Addicts lie constantly. There's no guarantee that they would serve well, listen to orders, etc. I think one of the great things about this country is that we're all free to choose our own path in life.

agree 

penguingrrl

EliseB0323:

penguingrrl:

I really like the idea of people being required to give up a year or two to serve their community, no question. That said, I see two serious issues with required military service. As a pacifist I absolutely don't believe in owning or using weaponry and would not be comfortable being required to do so. I can also see people who have legitimate complications with being required to move somewhere in order to serve their time. Aging parents who need them for support, children they had at a young age or other personal issues could make traveling to do their service difficult for some people. But, if they could find a way to work around issues such as these, I think that being required to spend a year or two in service to your country would be a really great thing and provide a set of values that many people in this country do seem to lack. I think it could help rebuild a community sensibility that seems to have gone by the wayside.

That said, given that in this country people do their absolute best to avoid a few days of jury duty, I'm guessing a requirement like this would not go over well.

Who would pay for everyone doing community service? It's a nice idea, but would cost a lot of money the government doesn't have.

By the same token, who would pay salaries for that many people to join the military? And who would pay for the equipment, housing, training that a stint in the military requires?

amiamish

very good points everyone! That's why I love this board, I get schooled daily.

jamie.renee

I do not agree with that at all.  My husband has been in the Army for 6 years, it definitely isn't for everyone.  I would not want my husband (or any other soldier) to have to fight alongside someone who does not want to be there or who is anti-military.  You have to really trust who you are with.  My husband is a cook because that is his passion.  When in Iraq he did not cook, he had to go out on missions.  Some people turned their backs on others and it isn't pretty during those kind of times.  

Right now the military is not hurting for people, in fact they are trying to get rid of so many people.