Bring back the Draft?

[JustAsIam77]

Just musing~historically were the best armies volunteer or conscripted..?

In my opinion it wouldn't matter as long as the military had the authority and support to do what needed to be done to win. As in WW2. Not like Nam. The damn politicians in D.C. screwed us.

 

[Christian Soldier]

Compulsory draft is far inferior for quality of service personel IMO.

Overall, I believe you're correct.

With a compulsory draft, you end up with a lot of disgruntled individuals who don't want to be there, which can have strong adverse effects on the morale of other personnel.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

I'll be honest, I'd be one of those people, especially if I don't believe in the war.

 

[Secundulus]

I should add these guys were not unpatriotic. Every day there were body counts on TV of the dead and wounded. At best there was a 50/50 chance anyone going over there would be killed or wounded.

Not the same as a peace time draft.

I would like to add that although I missed the Vietnam war by about four years, I have many co-workers that did serve in that war. For the most part (The vast majority), the drafted soldiers in that war, just as in WWII, served honorably and are a credit to the US Army and the United States of America.

I think that the movie, We were Soldiers, tells their stories well.

 

[MrJim]

Overall, I believe you're correct.

With a compulsory draft, you end up with a lot of disgruntled individuals who don't want to be there, which can have strong adverse effects on the morale of other personnel.

I was thinking about this~do you think there would be a many disgruntled if there wasn't a college-boy deferment?

 

[Edial]

Then I want to thank you personally. I picked up one of those out of the bookrack in my office building at Ft. Benning not long ago and now carry it around with me in my jacket pocket. It is the perfect size.

Oh, thank God.
To us it is a privilege to be there.

Thanks,
Ed

 

[Secundulus]

I was thinking about this~do you think there would be a many disgruntled if there wasn't a college-boy deferment?

My personal opinion is that those types of deferments are stupid. We are all citizens and all have the same obligations.

However, I will add, that contrary to the liberal propaganda, the rate of KIA and WIA in both Vietnam and in the current volunteer Army are essentially equal to the demographics in the USA.

It seems that whether black, Hispanic, or white (or other); whether educated or uneducated; or even (in the current conflict) whether male or female; All serve pretty much proportionally to the USA population demographic and all serve honorably and in equal proportion, heroically.

Selfless service does not seem to be unique to any race or to either sex.

 

[JustAsIam77]

I wouldn't call it "common". And if you care to consult with a trained audiologist, you'll find that multiple shotgun blasts right next to the ear would render someone PERMANENTLY deaf in virtually all cases.

Though I don't endorse either method, I believe pretending to be gay would be the more common sense approach.

Consult with a trained audiologist? Surely you must jest. I was riding with this guy in the bus. He told me what he did to avoid passing the screening. Maybe he was permanently deaf. A stupid thing to do in any event. Christian Soldier, where were you in 71' when the war was on? Don't get me started brother.

 

[SpiritualAntiseptic]

If the recent state of our military is an indication of future enlistment, we might well find ourselves in a situation where we have no choice. Given the left's view of the need for little to no military strength, they could be the ones to bring that need about. How's that for irony?

Community service is something I would like to see made available to all those finishing high school. Helping others and seeing how little others have might help a great deal of our youth gain some perspective and help them grow up and figure out what they want for their future.

Forced service just breeds resentment.

If you want to see kids getting involved- you have to do something about it. Teenagers love to do charity work- they don't because adults don't do anything to give them those opportunities and generally prefer that the responsibility fall on the government so they don't actually have to do anything.

 

[Nadiine]

I wouldn't call it "common". And if you care to consult with a trained audiologist, you'll find that multiple shotgun blasts right next to the ear would render someone PERMANENTLY deaf in virtually all cases.

Though I don't endorse either method, I believe pretending to be gay would be the more common sense approach.

At the rate things are going these days, they'll need to figure
out another excuse to use:o

 

[JustAsIam77]

I would like to apologize to Christian Soldier for the tone of my last post to him.

God bless

 

[Christian Soldier]

I would like to apologize to Christian Soldier for the tone of my last post to him. God bless

No offense taken.

And you were right, the comment about consulting a trained audiologist WAS in jest.

I also agree that it was a stupid thing to do, which was essentially the point I was trying to make.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

I think I'm taking an Anabaptist view to this. I don't think we as Christians should "bear the sword for the empire" to fulfill the "will of the empire". We must remember where our true citizenship lies. I want to see what we can get from the scriptures and the practice of the church on this issue. I don't want this view to be blamed on my age.

 

[MrJim]

I think I'm taking an Anabaptist view to this. I don't think we as Christians should "bear the sword for the empire" to fulfill the "will of the empire". We must remember where our true citizenship lies. I want to see what we can get from the scriptures and the practice of the church on this issue. I don't want this view to be blamed on my age.

There are lots of folks way older than you that live out this teaching..

 

[MrJim]

Conscientious Objector info~

http://www.mcc.org/us/co/faq/

http://www.mcc.org/us/co/askavet/

 

[JustAsIam77]

No offense taken.

And you were right, the comment about consulting a trained audiologist WAS in jest.

I also agree that it was a stupid thing to do, which was essentially the point I was trying to make.

God bless.

 

[Secundulus]

I think I'm taking an Anabaptist view to this. I don't think we as Christians should "bear the sword for the empire" to fulfill the "will of the empire". We must remember where our true citizenship lies. I want to see what we can get from the scriptures and the practice of the church on this issue. I don't want this view to be blamed on my age.

And yet, Christ did not condemn the Centurion that came to him. He did not condemn him for being in the Army but rather praised him for his faith.

It is worthy also to look at the testimony of the early Christian Martyrs. The Theban Legion. They were in the Army, Do we, as modern Christians deny their martyrdom?

 

[Apollo Celestio]

What was their relation to the empire? What was the teaching on such things? "I bear my sword for the empire to the glory of God?" Eh? As I said, who do we belong to? Going into the military is swearing allegiance to a nation you really don't belong to. Christ did not condemn the centurion, but he also said that those who live by the sword die by the sword. And I think marriage/re-marriage is another example of this. If you're already there, so be it as you must fulfill your oaths. (Another reminder to the gospel's teaching of oaths.)

 

[JCFantasy23]

People would go nuts here if you bring back the draft. Especially with the major anti-war environment we are in right now.

Yes, we're not in such a dire situation right now where we need to control everyone and force people to war who don't want to go or feel they're not right for it.

 

[Nadiine]

.. what happens when/if the country is way too short on
military volunteers in our anti war environment?