Should the United States Have Mandatory National Service?
The topic of mandatory national service has emerged during a period when the United States Army is struggling to meet and maintain its strength goal at over 483,500. Since Thomas Rick introduced the mandatory national service plan in 2012, the issue has continued to receive both supporting and opposing opinions. Even though the Us government has the right and power to create and maintain an army through conscription, the military service is presently voluntary. The proposed plan will impose one year of mandatory national service for every American after attaining the age of 18 years.
Supporters of this matter say that a year of mandatory national service will promote peace in the country by bringing together American citizens from diverse backgrounds. By training together, participants develop a sense of the shared experience of having served together in the military. Citizens will also understand and appreciate people who served and continue in the military. The unity will help break the partisan divide, particularly the political and racial divide that exists in the US.
Proponents also believe that getting involved in national service will bridge the childhood to adulthood gap by imparting skills and morals as young people are ushered into maturity. Training programs provided in national service focus not only on the technical skills but also on other skills such as teamwork, responsibility, stress management, diversity, initiative, self-defense, and discipline, which are very important in day-to-day life.
On the other hand, opponents of the matter view mandatory national service as an infringement of individual rights and freedom to choose what to do and what not do with our lives. The 13th amendment of the US constitution prevents any form of slavery or involuntary service except in punishment for a crime committed. If mandatory national service is introduced, all individuals attaining the age of 18 will be forced to join the army without having a say on whether they wish to perform public service.
Involuntary soldiers from mandatory services are likely to lack the essential training and experience, and mobility like that seen in voluntary soldiers who are willing and have the zeal to serve their country. This results in a weaker battle that is likely to result in an increased fatality during war.
According to the opponents, mandatory national service also takes up a significant amount of time in young citizens’ lives. Around the age of 18 is the period when they make major career and life decisions. A year of service will delay the pursuit of their careers and entry in the labor market, which negatively impacts their human-capital investment in return.
Cohen, Eliot A. Citizens and soldiers: The dilemmas of military service. Cornell University Press, 2019.
Kibreab, Gaim. The Eritrean National Service: Servitude for’the common good’and the youth exodus. Boydell & Brewer, 2017.
Stevens, Mitchell L., and Ben Gebre-Medhin. “Association, service, market: Higher education in American political development.” Annual Review of Sociology 42 (2016): 121-142.
