Dear Editor,
The case for reinstituting the military draft is stronger than ever and impacts our military posture, social structure and national economy.
Our current military force structure is composed of brave men and women who are serving up to their 4th or 5th combat tours. This directly impacts retention rates. The National Guard and Reserve forces have and are serving seemlessly with our regular forces. However, their ability to support non-combat missions at home is increasingly at risk.
Less quantitative, but nevertheless real, is the all-volunteer military in a representative democracy separates the protectors from the protected. Many Americans today cannot name a person in uniform. This weakens public support and diminishes the “we are all in this together” cohesion that was once a common denominator for our great nation.
The social cost for repeated deployments and exposure to hostile fire from an enemy who is fighting to die seldom makes the headlines. Domestic violence, divorce, and suicide are a real problem for multi-tour veterans and their families. Many military families are facing growing financial problems and the ever-present stress factor.
With a staggering national debt, military cost effectiveness should rank just behind force readiness. The draft would greatly reduce recruiting costs and cause several NASCAR teams to find new sponsors. Large, multi-thousand dollar retention bonuses could be dramatically reduced. Many draftees would have a positive alternative to crime and life on the streets. Costs for crime, courts and incarceration might be reduced, as well as unemployment payments.
Support for the return of the draft will have to be a “bottom-up” movement. Most politicians lack the backbone to address this growing national security problem.
Glenn Peck, USAF (Retired),
Shawnee
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Dear Editor,
The case for reinstituting the military draft is stronger than ever and impacts our military posture, social structure and national economy.
Our current military force structure is composed of brave men and women who are serving up to their 4th or 5th combat tours. This directly impacts retention rates. The National Guard and Reserve forces have and are serving seemlessly with our regular forces. However, their ability to support non-combat missions at home is increasingly at risk.
Less quantitative, but nevertheless real, is the all-volunteer military in a representative democracy separates the protectors from the protected. Many Americans today cannot name a person in uniform. This weakens public support and diminishes the “we are all in this together” cohesion that was once a common denominator for our great nation.
The social cost for repeated deployments and exposure to hostile fire from an enemy who is fighting to die seldom makes the headlines. Domestic violence, divorce, and suicide are a real problem for multi-tour veterans and their families. Many military families are facing growing financial problems and the ever-present stress factor.
With a staggering national debt, military cost effectiveness should rank just behind force readiness. The draft would greatly reduce recruiting costs and cause several NASCAR teams to find new sponsors. Large, multi-thousand dollar retention bonuses could be dramatically reduced. Many draftees would have a positive alternative to crime and life on the streets. Costs for crime, courts and incarceration might be reduced, as well as unemployment payments.
Support for the return of the draft will have to be a “bottom-up” movement. Most politicians lack the backbone to address this growing national security problem.
Glenn Peck, USAF (Retired),
Shawnee
