Restore the USA Military Draft, But not for War

I did not serve in the military because I was considered 4F due to extremely poor eyesight and also flat feet. However, I did go to a military school and the training and discipline I learned there was invaluable! I tried to get a commission when I was at Wake Forest University through my background in military school. I was granted two years of ROTC and would have been eligible for Officers Candidate School. It was while applying for this program that I was told I would never be allowed to serve in the military.

This was during the Vietnam War and I can understand not going to war zone. However, could I not have served in the USA as an officer training our service personnel? I could have helped state's side in some fashion.

Today, we don't have to send our young people to fight, just because we have a military draft. Why not use them through the Corps of Engineers to rebuild roads, bridges and other public construction projects? These are the age bracket that are finding no jobs available and are turning to crime in the streets. Put them in mandatory military training, like they do in other countries like Israel, where all teens and young 20s serve!

Here is a way to have them get in shape and learn discipline at the same time. They can also learn team and leadership skills.

Also, we need to do away with the Green Card program in the military that was shared by a disgusted Marine drill instructor. He told me that during boot camp each trainee was given a green card. This green card acted as a "time out" card. That meant that if you were tiring out during a particular exercise you could raise your green card and the instructor had to let you take a time out! This is absurd! These instructors are there to instill toughness and discipline not play nurse maid!

I can just see a scared young kid in Iraq or Afghanistan raising his green card up during the heat of battle and asking for a time out! That ain't going to happen! You are there to fight and save your life and your teammates!

I also mentioned in a previous article that retired military personnel like my friend Major Sam Mosteller, who trained our US Army Military Police would be more than happy to offer their drill instructor background to the Physical Education classes of American schools. Sam is principal of a Christian school in Atlanta and I will just bet you those kids are being taught discipline and how to stay fit!

So get up at your PTA meetings and ask if that would be okay for your kid's school. Find some retired drill instructor and offer him a small salary through a PTA donation program.