Pros and Cons of Reinstating the Draft
The Selective Training and Service Act, the document that laid out the draft for compulsory military service in times of need, was signed into law in 1940. The draft was in effect from1948 to 1973, when the United States converted to an all-volunteer military. However, questions about whether the peacetime draft should be reinstated remain a political hot button.
-
Selection
-
U.S. men between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to register with the Selective Service System. Women and older men are not required to register. The argument for this distinction is that men 18 to 25 are the most combat worthy.
Liberty
-
It has been argued that conscription is the best way to support the freedoms of society by maintaining a ready military. However, it also has been argued that by forcing individuals to become soldiers, society is stripping them of their freedom of choice.
Volunteers
-
By hosting a volunteer armed forces, a society ensures that only those with a desire to fight are in those forces. The argument is that a dedicated soldier will train and fight harder than a conscript because a volunteer has his own, non-compulsory reasons for enlisting.
Costs
-
It is argued that conscription saves money for the armed forces. Bonuses, advertising and recruiting are no longer as necessary with a steady stream of draftees.
Taxes
-
Opponents of the draft say it takes more time and tax dollars to train draftees than it does to train a volunteer force. The draft also takes people out of the economy who may already be gainfully employed and paying taxes.
-
