It's disgusting. It's dirty. It's foul, but extremely necessary. We, the collective country, have been, pardon the expression, “screwed”. It's a given, since unfortunately, the Bush administration will be know as the originators of the hundred years Jihad, which started as the Invasion of Iraq.
Almost four years after brazenly lying to the American public (on an aircraft carrier, in front of a banner saying mission accomplished), we are STILL at war, and we WILL be at war for at least the next one hundred years (according to one of the candidates running for president in 2008.)
Why are we in trouble? Because the exact same administration that lied to us about having completed the war in Iraq has also saddled us with a huge debt because of the privatized army that we are using.
We no longer have the same structure we've had in previous wars. There are no cooks and KP details in the all volunteer army. They were all privatized, by Haliburton, and KBR. We need to take the contractors out of Iraq, and put our citizens, and children in.
The new mandatory draft will be three (four) years, for all children older then seventeen or High School Graduates (whichever comes later). The draft will have two forms, a traditional military service, or an alternative service-to-America component.
One reason that the time frame is three (four) years instead of the old two year draft is because of the needs of higher training for today's intelligent weapons. Instead of simply a way to pass time, the military service option will also offer much training, and possibility of enhanced service for those to spend more significant periods of time (such as a career in the military) in service to our country.
Such a radical new change to our society will require careful planning and insight. It cannot be rushed into existence. It must be phased in over a number of years, with careful training, and dissemination to the masses. A few examples of how this can be managed is that the law will phase in over five years. That is, anyone in eighth grade when law is signed will be required to serve in either the military or the alternative service program, whereas those in High School, can volunteer into the program, and receive the same benefits, but will not be required to serve.
This phase in will also be required to assist Colleges and Universities in managing the different enrollments that they will be receiving from the newly released veterans. Part of this plan will include full tuition for two year associate degrees (paid directly to the schools) for all who serve the full required draft time. Additional years, and degrees will be paid for as the amount of service time goes up.
Another change from today is that future recruits will commence adjusting to the army, while still in school. Existing programs such as "Jr. ROTC" will be used to start to acclimate students (initially starting in the ninth grade, and eventually going down to middle school). Such experiences as a weekend introduction to the local military camp, as well as longer summer experiences will help acclimate students to the military.
Those not choosing the military (the choice will be given to our children, during the last few years of High School) will also benefit from the acclimation they received over the years, as the Service corp will also have the same format (away from home city), as the military does.
New recruits to the military will get preferred and enhanced training (as well as further payment for education), for extensions of their stay in the military. Obviously, we will also be attempting to entice our new trainees to choose a traditional twenty year military career, so we can better plan our future fighting forces.
Additionally, the Military Academies (West Point, Annapolis, etc) will have new selection processes, asking for volunteers and recommendations from the current troops, as well as based on field recommendations.
Besides advanced training, recruits choosing enhanced jobs will serve less "traditional" support tasks, but will still be cross trained. Those doing the basic three (four) year service will be trained in light arms, standard basic training, as well as the traditional Kitchen, Laundry, and transport support roles.
See also additional info in the mandatory-alternate-service doc.
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