The Draft

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, since end the draft in 1973 after the Vietnam War, the U.S. has relied upon an all-volunteer military force. The author points out that, with the all-volunteer force now engaged in on-going wars in several countries, the military is spread thin and recruiting and retention of new troops is difficult; therefore the country will eventually have to re-instate the draft. The paper reviews the attitude of politicians toward the return of the draft system, methods of extending military service that are de facto conscription and the lowering of requirements by military branches of service in an attempt to meet their requisite numbers. The paper includes long quotations.

From the Paper:

"In an effort to bolster numbers, the Army has taken measures such as raising the maximum age limit for enlistment from 34 to 41 years old. The Army has relaxed other rules allowing maximum body fat to be higher, tattoos to be exposed in uniform, more recruits can enter with serious criminal records, and they can also have waivers for more medical conditions. The relaxed requirements are now becoming common among all branches, as a means to attract the people that they need to fill the spots that are required for America's thin-running military."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Baldor, L. (2007). Pentagon struggles to find fresh troops. Retrieved March 10, 2007, from ABC news Web Site: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2940434&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
• Gettelman, E. (2007). At ease. (outfront)(recruitment goes up in army). In Mother Jones, 32 (1), 20. Retrieved February 15, 2007, from the Thomson Gale internet database.
• Rostker, B. (2006). Outside view: U.S. doesn't need the draft. UPI Security & Terrorism, Retrieved February 15, 2007 from the International Security & Counter Terrorism Reference Center database.
• Stewart, D. (2005). Military personnel: preliminary observations on recruiting and retention issues within the U.S. armed forces. Government Accountability Office. Retrieved February 15, 2007, from EBSCO Host internet database.
• Thompson, M. & Zabriskie, P. (2004). Does the U.S. need the draft? Time, 164 (16), 54-62. Retrieved February 15, 2007 from the Academic Search Premier database.

More papers on The Draft:

• Essay # 137609 : "Reinstating the Draft"
• Analytical Essay # 55845 : "Reinstating the Draft"
• Argumentative Essay # 62810 : "Constitutionality of the Draft"

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