Essay #4

English 300

Mandatory National Service

Being an American is not just being born within the United States or taking a test proving

peoples knowledge about American history or how the political process works. It is more than

just voting and paying taxes as we instill these values in our children. They need to learn it will

take more than taxes and voting to be an actual, functional member of society. It will take

personal time from everyday life and becoming an actual part of the system. It is also required

from every member of our society, from all economic and political levels to ensure no one is

exempt. Making young people responsible for their own participation within American society

is needed to ensure citizenship. A mandatory national service would ensure all Americans

sacrifice for their country from all levels of society, an increase in patriotism and teaching the

hard life-lessons needed by all young citizens.

A mandatory nation service would require all young adults, males and females, between

the age of 18 and 24 to honorably fulfill at least two years in the United States military or a

equivalent civilian service. This requirement would be for everyone, with no exceptions due to

college. This is not the historical conscription used by nations in the past such as ancient times

in many cultures, including the samurai, Aztec Empire, ancient Greece and Rome. Conscription

is defined as, “the compulsory enrollment of personnel for service in the armed forces”

(Conscription).

The mandatory national service would require participatory actions from both males and

females to participate in either a military service or a civilian service to ensure those

conscientious objectives who would not be subjected to military fighting. This concept has been

approached by members of congress, including Rep. Charles Rangel of New York in 2003, 2006,

2007, and 2010 (Rangle, 2010). Rangel’s bill passed the House of Representatives but not the

Senate, so none of his bills have passed into law.

Military duty is public service and American has been at war on two fronts since 2003.

The military is made up of an all-volunteer force. The draft or selective service hasn’t’ been

used in over 30 years. The military has a high representation of the poor and minorities in the

force, with minorities comprising 35 percent of the enlisted force. African Americans make up

20 percent of the enlisted force which is well above their proportion of the general population.

The poor, rural whites make up a significant proportion also with only 4 members of the 107th

Congress had children in the military (Rangle). This shows the defense of the United States is

placed within a small segment of paid volunteers, without the upper-level of society not sending

their children to die on the two war fronts ongoing. The land of the free is being defended by

only a few. This plan would equalize our force ensuring those who pass laws going to war will

suffer along with those who don’t have a say in going to war.

Mandatory military service is one of the oldest forms of national service and is used by

several countries successfully. Its use could increase patriotism, national unity would improve

and the nation as a hole would become healthier. It is common in all countries, even democratic

ones such as Austria, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel, Mexico, Norway, Russia,

South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. These countries prove mandatory military

service, when run correctly and honestly, can be an asset to their society and their people

(Williams). This shows how effective and successful mandatory service can be used to ensure

countries stay strong, unified and patriotic with the support from their population.

Putting a mandatory nation service plan into action would focus on getting the young

people to spend two years in service. While they serve, they would get paid a salary and credit

towards education and learn many skills. Their service would strengthen civil society, by

bringing people who are usually divided together: race, ethnicity, religion, class, geography, and

age. Learning how to get along and help each other would be the first important life lesson

learned by our young people (Rosenman). Along with working together, being respectful,

learning discipline and preparing themselves for life is an advantage, not disadvantage.

The United State’s all-volunteer force isn’t enough to ensure the ongoing conflicts and

any future conflicts arriving. The nation as a whole could benefit, with very little cost, with an

effective, mandatory national service program for all 18 to 25 year-olds with no exemptions,

except for physical ability, to ensure our national defense is equitable displaced among all levels

of society. It would improve national unity and patriotism by uniting everyone with a common

goal and purpose they are working on together to ensure a stronger, healthier nation. The young

citizens learn life-lessons together and become better, informed, productive, honorable members

of society. The United States have a win-win situation with a mandatory national service

program targeted to each person participation and strengths.

Reference Page

“Conscription.” Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th

Edition, (2010): 1.

Galston, William. “Should the All Volunteer Force Be Replaced by Universal Mandatory

National Service?Pro.” Congressional Digest, 85.7 (2006): 208-220.

Rangle, Charles. “Should the All Volunteer Force Be Replaced by Universal Mandatory National

Service?Pro.” Congressional Digest 85.7 (2006): 206-208

Rosenman, Mark. “A Call for National Service-Philanthropy.com.” Chronicle of Philanthropy,

20.1 (2007): 38.

Williams, Armstrong. “Mandatory Military Service.” New York Amsterdam News, 97.26

(2006): 13.