Conscription as a mechanism for youth discipline and social stability

¶ … Conscription in the 21st Century

The central problem that this research will explore is predicated on the view that conscription is based on the rights and duties of the citizen and furthermore, that conscription adds a positive dimension to both social life and the life of the individual. The argument against conscription often does not take into account the value that conscription can bring in terms of social and individual improvement and the alleviation of both individual and socials problems. This is a central aspect that should be focused on in understanding the advantages of conscription.

The problem statement that will therefore be investigated is as follows. The youth in our country are living a sedentary life with many young people having no direction or discipline. This affects society in many ways and includes issues such as unemployment and poor health among young people. Consequently, conscription should be enforced as it serves to solve a number of problematic issues in society and for the individual.

Hypothesis

The central hypothesis that will be explored in this study is as follows: conscription as a societal mechanism adds value to the lives of individuals and is a valuable asset in creating a more stable, motivated and healthy society. The variables that would be considered as part of this hypothesis are: the central variable of positive value in relation to variables such as discipline, mental and physical health, goals orientation and task directedness, as well as the effect of variables such as crime and productivity in society.

Review of the Literature

All citizens of the United States are members of the country's political community and have a fundamental obligation to demonstrate allegiance. For instance, according to Black's Law Dictionary, a citizen is "one who, under the Constitution and laws of the United States, or of a particular state, is a member of the political community, owing allegiance and being entitled to the enjoyment of full civil rights" (p. 244). The form that such allegiance assumes varies, of course, but one act that has historically been accepted as satisfying this obligation to country is military service. In this regard, Bandow suggests that, "Conscription enforces the moral duties of citizenship" (p. 23). The military draft, though, ended in the United States in 1973 and was replaced with an all-volunteer military force. According to Bandow (2000), "Despite a rocky start, the All-Volunteer Force (AVF) now provides America with the highest quality military in its history and the finest armed services in the world. Yet recruiting and retention problems have begun to appear. As a result, there are an increasing number of calls for a return to conscription" (p. 23). The draft was discontinued in 1973 in the United States based on several factors. For instance, according to Jehn and Selden (2002), "The end of the cold war and the increasing sophistication of weapons systems are often cited as reasons for eliminating conscription" (p. 93).

In 2003, concerned about manpower shortages and the expanding role of America in world affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense issued so-called "stop/toss" orders that applied to every branch of the armed forces that prevented all servicemembers, including those whose terms of service had ended, from leaving the military service until further notice (Schaeffer-Duffy, 2003). Since that time, the United States has been engaged in two shooting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, with the potential for hostilities to break out elsewhere in the Middle East as well as the potential for North Korea adventurism to demand an increased military presence on the peninsula. In this environment, the U.S. military is being spread far too thin to accomplish its battle-ready mission in an effective fashion. In this regard, Hauser and Slater (2010) emphasize that, "The president has chosen to increase our military commitment, but it is hardly certain that success can be achieved with our nation's current system for raising military manpower" (p. 75).

At present, the U.S. Selective Service all U.S. male citizens and residents between the ages of 18 and 26 years to register with the U.S. government, typically at a local post office (Schaeffer-Duffy, 2003). The Selective Service emphasizes the fairness of this approach compared to an all-out draft and emphasizes that, "For every man who fails to register, another man would be required to take his place" (quoted in Schaeffer-Duffy, 2003 at p. 16). Moreover, the Selective Service has eliminated many of the exceptions that were provided during the Vietnam War that allowed such luminaries as former Vice President Dick Cheney to receive six draft deferments because he had "other priorities besides military service" during the 1960s. According to Schaeffer-Duffy, other changes include "college students who are called up will only be allowed to finish the semester; although seniors can graduate" and "twenty-year-olds will be the first to be drafted" (p. 16).

A renewed conscription would provide the United States with the expanded, robust military force it needs to prosecute its global war on terrorism while fulfilling its other global obligations. According to two military veterans and current professors of political science, "The creation of larger, higher-quality forces -- with a credible capability to intervene massively on the ground -- would have a powerful deterrent effect, not only against terrorists themselves but also against states that currently support or tolerate terrorist activities" (Hauser & Slater, 2010, p. 76). These and like-minded authorities who support a return of the draft argue that in order to "speak softly" in world affairs, the United States needs a "bigger stick" to ensure other countries listen. As Hauser and Slater conclude, "Indeed, the existence of such a ground-combat deterrent might well result in fewer future U.S. military interventions, rather than more" (2010, p. 77).

Given the recent violent events that took place in Libya and Egypt, these issues have assumed new importance and relevance. Although the nature of the threat may have changed and the types of warfare that are being employed differ dramatically from years past, asymmetrical warfare is still war and war demands a fighting force to win it. In this regard, Hauser and Slater add that, "In the long-term struggle against radical Islamism and comparable threats, the United States is going to need larger standing forces of considerably improved quality, along with greater protection against executive misuse of those forces" (2010, p. 77). Proponents of the all-volunteer force maintain that this approach ensures that only motivated individuals will join the military, contributing to more professional armed forces. Unfortunately, this reliance on volunteers only has resulted in a gutted military that is undermanned for the global missions they have been assigned. Without more manpower, the U.S. military's efforts will be doomed to failure before they ever begin. In this regard, Hauser and Slater (2010) conclude that, "Committing the nation to a major military campaign (in Afghanistan or elsewhere) with qualitatively and quantitatively inadequate manpower offers a guarantee of disaster" (p. 77).