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My son already did his hitch in the Air Force then went back into the Army after 9/11/...but I see where you are going with this MissC.

If I had anymore, and I think my son at 30 years old is still eligible for recall, I would have no problem with it as long as it was "across the board"...no exemptions.

Again, a mandatory service draft...not all military, could be civil engineering, medical related, social programs, etc.

I'd like to know what etc. means.

Not everybody qualifies for lofty positions. Some would automatically be sent to the front lines even though they didn't choose to go.

I thought we wanted less government controlling our lives, not more. At some point, we all have to pick a lane to drive in. Cruising down the middle of the highway probably isn't a good plan.

Pancho, I'd drop the age requirement. I meant what I wrote. Those who vote for war should be the first to go. Then put the age requirement in for the rest of the population. All those who are hot to trot to war should be the ones first to go. They have all the fire and passion, so they'll make the best soldiers. And I don't give a second thought to age. The old codgers wlll figure out a way to end it down and dirty and quick so they can come home. But if they had to fight and risk dying themselves, they might think a second or third time before voting for war. It's easy to send some other person's kids, one's own they will get deferred. No, they should put their feet on the ground when they think war is the only solution.

Those cahones you were talking about in another forum? Going to war iis the place to show them. .

So GG, the President should be on the front lines??....O.K., that makes a lot of sense. Now you are just being irrational and argumentative. can't have a constructive discussion when one is that way.

MissC....etc. means, in my usage, jobs that may be particular to ones career interests. read what I wrote..." a mandatory service draft...not all military"

GG you are being foolish if you think that it is "easy" to send anybody off to die in war. I think it would be harder to send someone else's kid off than my own.

And MissC, government control is not the issue here. those that come out of high school and have no future will be a burden and the government will wind up paying for them in one way or another. Why not have them in the military or some other field to learn a skill as well as a place o live, food, and medical care.

This mandatory service could even involve foreign aid like the peace corps, there are all kinds of positive possibilities but you two seem to want to focus on the most negative aspect which is really only a bad thing as long as we keep getting in these "wars".

But I guess a mother looks at things differently than a father, and those unfamiliar with the military just cannot understand some things that are good about military life.

But I respect y'alls concerns and since this will probably never happen, don't sweat it. MissC...your boy will stay safe and sound.

how about not doing a draft but making full citizenship contingent on service to the nation?

Well Dragon, if full citizenship made that big of a difference that would be great.

GITMO detainees being granted the same legal rights as citizens?

Space Invaders (I don't use illegal immigrants anymore) having all the rights and benefits as citizens?

My father became a naturalized citizen by serving in Korea.

My husband was in the Navy for 10 years and I was married to him for 5 of them. I lived and worked in Port Hueneme, CA for 6 years before that. It's home port for the SeaBees. I'm quite familiar with military life and wouldn't wish it on anybody who didn't choose it for themselves.

I disagree that more government control isn't exactly what's at issue in regards to Mandatory Service To The United States Of America, regardless of the choices of service available.

Dragon.......if I'm reading you correctly, I see what you're suggesting. If immigrants want to become full citizens, they must serve the country in one way or another for a defined period of time.

Interesting.

Crap.....one last thing. Military service is not off of the table for my son, Pancho. Please don't placate me by telling me that he's "safe and sound". None of us are.

I would prefer for public service to be his choice. That's all.