Thanks for the historical information Gordon, I didn't realize the draft was such an aberration. From personal experience, I agree with every single one of the points expressed below...
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The report praised the benefits of an all-volunteer military force over a conscripted force.
"The all-volunteer force has served the nation for more than a quarter-century, providing a military that is experienced, smart, disciplined and representative of America," the report said.
The volunteer force lets the military build more advanced weapons because the service members are smarter and better-trained. Draftees quit the service early, requiring larger numbers and more training.
"With a conscripted force comes higher personnel turnover, which results in substantial costs," the report said. "Shorter enlistment terms, characteristic of a draft, result in high personnel turnover and a degradation in unit stability and performance."
Training costs are higher with a draftee military, thus reducing warfighting preparedness, the report said.
"With a volunteer military comes a more motivated force," the report said. "Data show that people perform better if they are true volunteers than if they are coerced into military service."
Many of today's military leaders are veterans of the Vietnam War and oppose the draft because of problems with draftees during the conflict.
A senior defense official who briefed reporters said the military leadership was "horrified" by congressional proposals to reinstate the draft.
"No one wants to go back to a situation where the people didn't want to serve; in fact, might have been hostile to the purposes to which they were put," the official said. |
