by Peter Lampros

Created on: November 23, 2007

The draft should be reinstated in the United States. In fact, we should employ a conscripted service like many other countries employ. Every citizen of the United States should have to serve a minimum of two years of military or government service. This would assist in our national defense and provide personnel for government projects and execution of foreign policy. This would also have a positive impact on the draftees. Service abroad, especially military service, is instrumental in the maturity of many young people and provides a foundation of discipline and maturity which is evident when compared with their non-military peers. This can, in the course of two to three years, boost the morality and maturity of the individual many years beyond what it would be without the military service. The military also instills a code of ethics, the violation of which will land an individual in jail and can have lasting repercussions which follow as a federal conviction.

Civilian employers have found, over the years, that military veterans have better attitudes, work ethic, and values than their non-veteran counterparts. A patriotic employer will also respect the fact that the veteran employee has served his or her country with pride and was honorably discharged. The draft could also cut down on crime, to some degree, as all military members have their DNA recorded on file for identification purposes. This would have the effect of a lock keeping an honest man honest. The military veteran is less likely to commit a crime because of the likelihood of his or her being identified by the DNA test, in addition to the ethics and discipline instilled in them during their service.
There are those who are opposed to the draft because of the war on terror, but the draft would do so much for our nation and our young people, in spite of the war. Those individuals who would have otherwise joined will still join and some may stay beyond the draft commitment. Those who never would have joined will serve their country and some of them may stay as well, but most will return to the civilian world as better citizens.

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