8 of 16

Yes

Write now Article Tools

For better or worse, I am a U.S. citizen. Similarly, for better or worse I served my country. Right or wrong, i volunteered to put my life on the line every single day for eight years. I regret absolutely none of it. I don't expect everyone to want to serve their country... in fact, it takes a special kind of American to heed the call to duty, honor, country. To say that we have at our disposal the the most well trained, most lethal military machine to ever set foot on this earth is an understatement. This countries military will more than likely go down in history as the best. What makes our military even better is the fact that the men and women that decided to heed that call... volunteered to do it. They serve this country right or wrong because they wanted to. They believed as i did, that this country was worth paying the ultimate price for if need be.

Our volunteer Army works! It works because nobody wants to do what they're made to do, its much easier to fight for something you believe in. You can look throughout history and see the armies that fell because soldiers were forced to fight for beliefs that weren't their own. Whole civilizations fell into the rule of one super power or another at the time and were forced to assimilate into their societies and fight for those societies, even though they didn't share the same belief system. That means a whole lot of men that wouldn't be coming home to their families because they had to die for something they didn't believe in.
A volunteer Army ensures that the soldiers that enlist to fight will give their best. They will share the belief that the fight is a good and just fight. They will not cower or run away at the first sign of trouble, nor will they allow themselves to be dishonored. A freely assembled Army fights with quite a bit more morale than an army that is made to serve against their will.
Recruitment is down due mostly to the fact that young Americans today do not share that same duty to country that young Americans once felt. Once upon a time it was an honorable thing to do... serve the country. Employers after the service looked at you with a good opinion, serving your country meant something in the civilian world... once upon a time. Recruitment is down because the other option is more appealing these days. Go to college, get a degree, get the high paying job with Microsoft and live happily ever after. No basic training, no 4 A.M. wake ups, no push ups, no sit ups, no having to go fight and maybe die for something worth believing in. As long as today's young Americans don't feel the call to serve their country because the grass is greener and easier to walk on on the other side, recruitment will continue to slip until there is nothing we can do about it. We must continue to give Americans something to believe in, something worth fighting for. When that happens our Army will continue to be the best.

Learn more about this author, Unstoppable Force.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about US Army recruitment rates continue to fall: Is a volunteer army sufficient anymore??
We want to hear your view. Write now!