Dodgy On The Draft

Conscription Fears Slowly Creep Into Young America

(CBS)  Most of the fear of reinstating a draft comes from assumptions that it will be organized much like the Vietnam-era draft, where college students and children of privilege often deferred. The Selective Service System explains that a modern draft would be distinctly different. College deferrals would only last until the end of an academic semester or the end of the year for seniors. A lottery system would determine who is drafted, beginning with men who turn 20 in the year of the draft. Selective Service also claims that local draft boards now have better representation of their respective communities, helping to eliminate arguments about racial and economic bias.

Since 1973, America has operated with a volunteer army. However, some argue that reinstating compulsory service may be beneficial to the country’s defenses. Paul Glastris and Philip Carter of the Washington Monthly made the case for a modern draft last March.

"A modernized draft would demand that the privileged participate. It would give all who serve a choice over how they serve. And it would provide the military, on a ‘just in time’ basis, large numbers of deployable ground troops, particularly the peacekeepers we'll need to meet the security challenges of the 21st century."

Carter and Glastris believed that a draft today would allow draftees to choose which branch to serve in, whether it is the PeaceCorps, non-combat, or military. They believed that most would chose the first two, but those who braved the military would receive better benefits. Regardless of which sector draftees choose, the American military would receive a much-needed boost in manpower.

Compulsory service has long been controversial in American history. But several other countries — most notably Germany, Switzerland, and Israel — implement a mandatory service requirement for all male citizens.

"When a man turns 18 in Germany, he goes through a few months of service," said Thomas Reutin, a German student currently studying in Washington. "Basic training lasts the first two months, and then he is either assigned to an office or shipped abroad for peacekeeping duty. It’s not that big of a deal. Americans fear that they will be sent to fight in Iraq, but Germans really don’t have that fear."

While most Americans denounce forced conscription, young men like Luyties are warming up to the European style of compulsory service as a replacement.

"I would approve of a system where an 18-year-old man must serve at least six months, whether it is with the PeaceCorps or military," said Luyties. "The idea is that you should earn your rights as an American, and not have them given to you."

For now, the draft remains on permanent hiatus. But the debate over whether it should be unearthed rages on, as do the fears of many young adults across the country.