by M.D. Hennessey

Created on: December 25, 2007   Last Updated: September 09, 2008

Forced military service in the United States will not return for the current engagement in Iraq, and, in my opinion, will never be seen in the US again. Two main problems stem from the reinstitution of the draft - the discontent amongst the American population and the adverse effect on the effectiveness of the military.

The military draft was first instituted in the United States in 1862 by the Confederate States of America. The draft was most recently used in America's engagement with Vietnam. If the military draft were ever to be reinstated in the US, the public would turn sour on the cause entirely. As seen in Vietnam, public opinion on the war plummeted once the draft was instituted, and we all know what happens when public opinion sways against the conflict. When America sees on the news men they know the local plumber, butcher, and mailman being shipped to a far-away place against their will, the feeling will automatically be that of sorrow and resentment. This is especially true in America where a man is able to carve his own in the world and decide for himself. This is not to say, however, that men should not do their patriotic duty to this country; only that the decision should be only theirs, and not that of the government.

Another problem with the reinstitution of the draft is that it will adversely affect the military's morale and effectiveness. Think of doing something you don't want to do. It can be anything. The effort given to the task is lackluster and not the result is not as good as if may have been otherwise. This is how men will perform once drafted, against their will, into the military. Men who are gentle by nature and plenty of them get drafted will simply not perform military tasks to the standard that a volunteer would. This lackluster performance will hinder the officers' job to make tough decisions which ultimately will hurt the rate of success. Due to this, the military should stay an all volunteer force. Someone who volunteers for the military will perform to the best of his ability because he believes in the cause and wants to fight.

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