Let's talk about involuntary conscription.....

[AZ Jim]

During the "world wars", Korea and Vietnam we drafted our young men ages 18-36 into the military and sent them to those wars. Now, with equal rights and some women clamoring to also serve in battle, do we include them in the drafts? I want women to enjoy equal rights, pay, everything but something in me does not like letting women be butchered in battle. Still, equal does mean equal, doesn't it? This could become an issue if we don't allow our diplomats to work out problems and instead let our impatient or stubborn just put us into these scrimmages. BTW before anyone makes the point of us having had some women killed in combat, I am aware of that but I am talking wholesale use of women in a draft situation. Set me straight....

 

[Ameriscot]

Not sure I'm in favour of a draft at all, but if so, I don't see why women shouldn't be drafted as well. Why is the life of a woman more valuable than the life of a man?

 

[AZ Jim]

Not sure I'm in favour of a draft at all, but if so, I don't see why women shouldn't be drafted as well. Why is the life of a woman more valuable than the life of a man?

Remember my question is academic, I make no judgements on this issue. I am anxious to see what others think.

 

[Jackie22]

I think as long as the military quota is being met voluntarily, there is no need for a draft, but if there was, I agree with Annie on the drafting of women, although I think their duties should be restricted to their physical capabilities.

 

[AZ Jim]

I think as long as the military quota is being met voluntarily, there is no need for a draft, but if there was, I agree with Annie on the drafting of women, although I think their duties should be restricted to their physical capabilities.

Really? Ok then think about the women police and firefighters who have sued cities for putting them in "safer" jobs. So you have to ask yourself do we really mean EQUAL? Or do we mean equal in all ways except this or that?

 

[Jackie22]

LOL....well gee, Jim, was that a judgement? I just don't think a woman can do what a man can do physically, and should not be expected to, my opinion only, not talking equal or sueing anyone.

 

[AZ Jim]

LOL....well gee, Jim, was that a judgement? I just don't think a woman can do what a man can do physically, and should not be expected to, my opinion only, not talking equal or sueing anyone.

No Jakie, my question was not judgmental, I mean it as an examination of the subject. You see what I mean? If we allow the "as long as" to exist in this case are we not saying that we don't really mean equal? I'm asking, not advocating.

 

[Laurie]

We drafted women during the war, not necessarily into the armed forces (though most were) but into logging, agriculture and factories. On the other hand we also drafted males into the coal mines.

 

[AZ Jim]

We drafted women during the war, not necessarily into the armed forces (though most were) but into logging, agriculture and factories. On the other hand we also drafted males into the coal mines.

My academic question is primarily for USA members and specifically for combat potential, but that's interesting about your history. Thanks, Laurie...

 

[Josiah]

I was very active back in the 1960's in several organizations who's purpose was to oppose the war in Vietnam. As I think back to those years it strikes me that the anti-war sentiment back then was an order of magnitude more intense than any opposition to the current wars in the Middle East. I suspect that the reason for this was the existence of the draft which forced every able bodied young man to seriously think about the possibility of his being shipped to Vietnam....and also the reality that more people in the general public knew someone who had been killed in that horrible war. I would therefore favor a resumption of the draft with very few exemptions women included, because only in this way will the horror and craziness of modern war be visited upon people in middle and upper class families.

 

[BobF]

My daughter, out of college, working for government jobs, was about 32 years old, near the top age to get signed up. She had something that she wanted to learn and signed up for a job that required a year of Chinese as part of the training. She did her year in training and was waiting for a good assignment where she could use her knowledge. Iraq became the issue. Arabic stuff and no Chinese ever. She spent a couple months of special training before the assignment to place. Then she got to spend a year doing whatever her chosen career does, but in Iraq. She rode in helicopters all over that country. Helped in discoveries and finding of certain folks. When the shooting ended they were kept busy with the hot spots. After her year in Iraq, she was sent to Germany, then back to the states. She was not the only woman doing their time in Iraq. I met some of her army buddies while they were gathering in Denver to form a unit ready for additional training and transport to Iraq. I really don't know if any of her original bunch ever got hurt or killed. The message from me and a bunch of ladies in Iraq is, yes they can do a military job as women have done over the centuries. I do remember the Navajo girl that was killed while driving a truck in those first few days. There is a memorial in Phoenix for her efforts.

It seems that for several years now and some small and not so small efforts have been successful. So much of today's efforts are high tech and really need those of good intent, not just drafted drugged or alcoholics wanted.

From 2003 to 2014 in Iraq we had 4,500 killed. Pretty mild for the US compared to our older wars like Korea or Vietnam or WWII.

 

[AZ Jim]

I am not sure how this fits into the proposition before us here, Bob. We all know a small minority of women have been in combat zones but we are discussing the wholesale drafting of women just as men are drafted and trained in weapons and sent to the front just as men do and have done. The secondary question is what does equal mean? Does it mean literally equal in all areas
of military assignment or does it mean something else.

 

[BobF]

I see no reason for a draft as we have had none for many years now. I was thinking that my post was very much for the women's ability to do war time activities. Not sure a draft would get us much more than burnouts and not our educated folks that do volunteer. Drafts are for dummies, if that is what we need in our services.

Women represent about 14 percent of the active Army, 23 percent of the Army Reserve and 16 percent of the Army National Guard as of fiscal year 2014. An increasing proportion of senior-level active duty and DoD positions are being filled by women.

The year 1973 was the last year for a draft. They need to avoid that draft for as long as possible.

 

[Underock1]

Well is there a difference between equal rights and equal obligations? I suppose you could draft them and send them into combat if they were suitable. Not all men are front line combat material. The idea of some kind of obligatory National service might be a good idea for the country. For myself, I am happy that I was never called up for Korea. The sophisticated technology of modern warfare really requires highly trained professionals. Large conscript armies don't work very well anymore. I hate the TV commercials the services use to draw in the children of the middle and lower classes by waving the flag, playing the "hero" card, and dangling a free education in front of them. These kids are dieing and being maimed every day in far off places. They barely get a mention on the nightly news, if its mentioned at all. "Thank you for your service". That's it?
If the kids of the decision makers had to go, I think the decisions might be a bit different. But then I guess they could find their kids a nice desk job somewhere.

 

[AZ Jim]

Of course in the case of WW2 we either drafted or allowed our armies to be defeated. Manpower.

 

[Jackie22]

Well is there a difference between equal rights and equal obligations? I suppose you could draft them and send them into combat if they were suitable. Not all men are front line combat material. The idea of some kind of obligatory National service might be a good idea for the country. For myself, I am happy that I was never called up for Korea. The sophisticated technology of modern warfare really requires highly trained professionals. Large conscript armies don't work very well anymore. I hate the TV commercials the services use to draw in the children of the middle and lower classes by waving the flag, playing the "hero" card, and dangling a free education in front of them. These kids are dieing and being maimed every day in far off places. They barely get a mention on the nightly news, if its mentioned at all. "Thank you for your service". That's it?
If the kids of the decision makers had to go, I think the decisions might be a bit different. But then I guess they could find their kids a nice desk job somewhere.

I feel the same on how they recruit the young, Underock1, especially how they go into the high schools and try to influence these young people, they may have stopped doing this, seems like I read that there were many kicking up about it....not sure, but hope it has been
discontinued.

 

[Underock1]

Of course in the case of WW2 we either drafted or allowed our armies to be defeated. Manpower.

Absolutely. Different times. Huge numbers volunteered without the need for compulsion. Women voluntarily went into the services in large numbers. They made an essential contribution. Not just in desk jobs either. Then there were the nurses. Many spent years of horror in Japanese prison camps. While we're at it, lets not forget "Rosie the Rivitter". A little off topic, but I think appropriate.

 

[Warrigal]

Warfare is a lot different these days.
Even I could sit at a desk and kill people using drones and smart missiles.

I see no need for conscription under current conditions.
In the face of invasion however, it's one in, all in and that includes older people too.

 

[AZ Jim]

To support your statement Underock, I worked 30 years for General Dynamics, Convair specifically. During the war we were (not me but my Dad) were spitting out B-24's to go to Europe at a rate of as many as 25 a DAY. They were flown to Europe by WOMEN who taxied them to the front.

 

[Underock1]

To support your statement Underock, I worked 30 years for General Dynamics, Convair specifically. During the war we were (not me but my Dad) were spitting out B-24's to go to Europe at a rate of as many as 25 a DAY. They were flown to Europe by WOMEN who taxied them to the front.

Yes, Jim! I saw a documentary on those gals. I was going to mention them, but I tried to keep things short. Glad you brought that up.
My Dad was spraying asbestos on Liberty ships in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. I'm sure that was a big contributor to the cancer that eventually killed him.

 

[Don M.]

Personally, I think All of our young people should be required to perform a year of some sort of national or community service...or spend a couple of years in the military. In this day and age where many of their lives seem to revolve around texting on their cell phones, or playing video games, these young people are failing to gain any sense of Reality. There are any number of volunteer type projects that they could get involved with that would introduce them to the hardships many of our people face. Serving in the military can be a real jump start into responsible adulthood. In this country, we are blessed with the ability to make a good life for ourselves...but along with that "blessing", there needs to be a lot of personal responsibility that seems to be increasingly lacking.

 

[drifter]

I am not for assigning women to combat units. I am against a draft. We have no reason for one. Was Iraq worth all the young people who died? These impulse wars of opportunity like Iraq and whatever we're calling the present conflict are not worthy of a draft. With a volunteer army they can be used as pawns for our political big wigs. If we were using draftees, moms and dads all over the country would be up in arms at this nonsense.