National service

The assassination of Iranian general Oassem Soleimani has caused fear in America. The threat of a war with Iran has been openly discussed. As a result, the internet is abuzz with concerns that the military draft will be reinstated should the situation become worse.

It has been a long time since the draft was relied upon. For decades the country has maintained a volunteer army.

It is unlikely that the draft would be reenacted in this situation, but so many are concerned that the Selective Service website was overwhelmed and crashed.

Obviously, the idea of a draft is not far from people’s minds.

A more remote idea is serving one’s country.

Service to the country should not be a foreign concept.

The problem with the draft is that it has been exclusively tied to military service.

Yet, the nation needs more than just soldiers. It needs nurses, teaches, child and elder caregivers and forest workers.

All of these and many more skills are needed.

Requiring national service of young adults could fill some of the gaps in the country.

National service could be voluntary in the sense that appropriately aged citizens could select their fields.

Regardless of the details, every able-bodied citizen should spend some time in national service.

The benefits could be great, but the greatest could be generations of young citizens with a vested interest in the well-being of the country. Today, a very small percentage of citizens join the military. Beyond that, public service is basically limited to those seeking jobs and careers, not many of whom see their jobs as in the national interest.

In the past, the draft did not involve everyone. A few were called to duty, but the rest remained untouched.

A universal requirement for national service would eliminate the unfairness and get every citizen into serving the needs of the country. It could prove to be a massive influx of talent and skills where they are most needed. As important, maybe more important, citizens would invest time and energy in the country. This alone could increase the sense of citizenship and the awareness that the workings of the country cannot be left to a few.

As in the past, deferments for education and the like could be granted, but at the end of the deferment, citizens would still have to serve. This could bring in even better educated and trained people to serve the country’s needs. All service could be limited to two years.

National service would also give young citizens some training and experience that they would not otherwise get early in their careers.

To many, the draft is an ugly word. Universal service should not be.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher