Writer: US should reinstate the draft
By: Christopher Marek – First Year, Civil Engineering
Cigarettes, R-rated movies, voting, lottery tickets: These are all staples of turning 18 in America, but there is
another milestone that isn’t as important as it used to be, and that is the draft. Yes, the draft is still a possibility
for all men, but it hasn’t been implemented since the Vietnam War. Presidents since have argued that it has not
been necessary to reinstitute the draft due to the high number of volunteers applying for the US military over the
previous decades.
Sure, the draft isn’t necessary for the numbers needed to defend the nation, but it is necessary for other reasons.
As it stands right now, America feels disconnected from the military. Yes, America highly supports its troops, as
it should, but it is also too quick to suggest sending them in to solve any conflict. “Sending in the troops” is one
of the most common solutions to any of our country’s defense problems.
We have become disconnected with the military because we ourselves do not face the possibility of being sent
away to a far off land. We think of the military as a distant entity that we just send in to quickly solve our
problems instead of thinking of them as ourselves and our family. We never foresee the possibility of war being a
risk to ourselves so we are quick to suggest sending other people over in our place.
America needs to reinstitute the draft to bring back the real possibility that any of us can be sent off to fight our
so called “needed” wars in the Middle East. This will make people think twice before voting for a candidate that
wants to solve the world’s problems with the strong arm of the United States. This policy will make the voters
more thoughtful and informed when it comes to foreign policy and will go a ways to ensuring that the American
people are behind a war and are willing to accept the losses of their family members. Americans will start asking
more questions when it comes to war and will need concrete evidence before they agree that war is necessary for
the survival of the country. During Vietnam, all of America, especially young people, was interested in the war
because they all had the possibility of dying in in it. This will also force politicians to think long and hard before
sending in the troops when they could be their own kin or be voted out of office based on what the American
people think about the validity of that war. All of America will contemplate war more in-depth because it will
begin to affect their daily lives.
Maybe you agree that young people should be more invested in America and various policies, but you are
opposed to the draft conscientiously: then I offer the solution of a draft for volunteer service. This could work
alongside the military draft as an option to conscientious objectors (my preference) or could be implemented
instead of the military draft. Just like the military draft, this volunteering draft would unite you with people from
across America and from various walks of life, but instead of training for war you would be volunteering or
working on America’s failing infrastructure in exchange for college education or some equivalent after you have
served your time. This will make people invested in America and will also help America by aiding the poorest of
the American people and therefore improving America by solving some social problems, youth unemployment,
and college financial problems.
The reinstatement of the draft while currently unpopular would solve many of the nation’s problems, both
foreign and domestic. I believe, even as a person that opposes most modern military conflict, that a combination
draft (military and volunteer) is best for America. It will solve youth employment and the problems associated
with it (drugs, crime, etc.), will help solve low unemployment numbers in the social sector and help these people
expand their outreach, will make the American people and specifically the American youth pay attention to
American policy, and will also make them more involved in the democratic process. I think these are tremendous
problems that need to be addressed and I believe that the US government reinstating the draft is the best way to
do it.