Posted on 06/05/2013 11:14:38 AM PDT by LonelyCon
Less than 1% of Americans serve in the military—a historic low during wartime—leading to a broad, complacent assumption that serving the nation is someone else's job.
Universal national service should become a new American rite of passage. Here is a specific, realistic proposal that would create one million full-time civilian national-service positions for Americans ages 18-28 that would complement the active-duty military—and would change the current cultural expectation that service is only the duty of those in uniform.
At age 18, every young man and woman would receive information on various options for national service. Along with the five branches of the military, graduates would learn about new civilian service branches organized around urgent issues like education, health care and poverty. The positions within these branches would be offered through AmeriCorps as well as through certified nonprofits. Service would last at least a year. Returning military veterans would be treated as the civic assets they are and permitted to use a portion of their GI Bill benefits to support a period of civilian national service, since such service helps them transition to life back home.
Serving full-time for a year or two needs to be a realistic option for all young Americans, regardless of their family's finances. So civilian service positions would be modestly paid, as AmeriCorps positions are now. (Most AmeriCorps service-members receive a $12,100 stipend for the year, and if they complete their term of service, a $5,550 scholarship to help cover tuition or to pay off student loans.) Government agencies focused on the challenges that these service-members address, as well as the corporations that will benefit from employing Americans whose leadership will be cultivated by service, should step up to fund these efforts.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
Nope.
This USAF veteran says “Hell No!” to this proposal!
I have served my country in the military. I have served my country as a Scout leader. I have served my country through my church. I have served my country by working productively for 30 years. I strongly approve of others also serving, but we do not need a bigger government to do that.
To be more precise, I do not want a bigger government today while Obama is in power, nor, now that I know leftist voters will support pure evil would I want to set a precedent for a greatly expanded national service plan. I want these people to find service opportunities on their own - military for at least some of the decent, hard-working patriots, and non-military for the parasites and leftists, but not paid with my tax dollars for the leftists.
Modern conflicts don’t need large numbers for cannon fodder. Even Israel admits their draft is for social integration, not military necessity. Libs like the General here only want the military as a way to expand indoctrination and control.
McChrystal can pack sand.
Damn right, nope. The starting principle of conservatism is that the "state" exists to serve the people. The people do not exist to serve the state. The latter is the thinking of "subjects," not citizens.
Uh memo to Stanley I have a news flash for you dude. Somebody already thought of that and its call the National Service Act. It was a crappy idea when Rhom Emanuel thought it up and its a crappy idea now.
I keep wondering what war he’s talking about. We’re trying ot win the hearts and minds with the blood of our children. Go build nations with the blood of those nations children. Piss off, you can’t have mine!
Old soldiers never die, they just write crazy op-eds.
Ask not.............................
I find the General’s reasoning to be faulty. Perhaps this addle pated idea stems from being the son of and being himself a career soldier. Who knows?
I am the son of two parents and grandson of America’s Citizen Soldiers. In his book, Citizen Soldiers, Ambrose defined this a ordinary citizens who serve in the military for one term then return to civilian life.
My Grandfather, born in 1909, was a volunteer in the Marines in WWII. He participated in the invasion of and battle on Okinawa.
Both my parents served in the Navy during the Korean war.
I served between Viet Nam and Granada. Little did I understand it then, but I was one of the pioneers, the first of, that tradition of America’s ALL VOLUNTEER armed forces.
The General, to his discredit, wishes to impose involuntary service on all young Americans. He should be ashamed to so cavalierly discard that which makes our military, like our Nation, so unique.
The NappyOne
Dear General McChrystal;
No.
Rather, I offer an alternative. Every qualified male upon accession from high school or its equivalent (Home School, GED etc) is given the option of which branch of service basic recruit, basic combat training, etc they wish to attend. Then upon completion, they attend a high density skill school, abbreviated to not more than 3 weeks to fully integrate them into the USA, USMC, USN & USAF.
Then, they can attend college trade school etc with the ability seek tuition assistance, grants loans etc as they can now. Those who refuse or fail to complete for cause, never qualify for any state or federal benefits. Period. Those who do not qualify for other than medical,(legal, moral, educational ) never get benies. Period.
Females, who wish to seek a spot in the services may do so as above. Those who wish not to serve in arms, can select from one of sevral service oriented alternatives.
What our youth need is a swift kicjk in the selfishness department, some integration ionto a team, that they cannot quit w/o penalty, and a sense of purpose only the military seems to induce into our citizens.
Some tweaking may be inorder, but then again, my summary is a few lines.
Make it hurt to not play, make it a valuable asset to play well.
We may just need a lot of folks that can be spun up and sent downrange quickly one of these days.... 3/4 of a million in uniform who have borne the burden of a decade plus is not a long term solution to national defense assets.
God Bless all of you volunteers.
As one very recently retired from the military I also say hell no to this idea.
This is a bad idea on a multitude of levels. Jut to name one, who is going to pay for it. God save us from the government Good Idea Fairy.
Amen to that!
That is one of the themes from General Eikenberry's recent article, "Americans and their Military, Drifting Apart"
If you are interested, that can be found at FR thread #3026476
No. What "our youth" need is a vastly smaller government, on all levels, that demands compulsory service only in the event of a true crisis that threatens the nation. Apart from that, this vastly smaller government should allow "our youth" to succeed or fail based on their own abilities, energy, and ambition, with minimal restraints on their freedom but also with no "social safety net" below them.
The only legitimate way for "our youth," collectively, to be given a kick in their "selfishness" department is to allow them to fall, and fall hard, on account of it.
Anything else is statist bullsh*t.
The only justification for it is a war of national survival.
I would, however, be willing to consider Heinlein's idea that was the basis of Starship Troopers
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