Do you think that all 18 year olds or older should be required to serve in the armed forces?
912950
NO exemptions for the children of politicians or government appointees.
686996
I think all young men should sometime or another go into the military but right now is not a good time. Both my son's are in ( one in the Marines and the other Army ) My son that is in the Marines loves it very much but he was sent to Iraq and came back hurt and he still wants to stay in. So I think it depends on the person and how that person feels but please don't join for the wrong reasons !!! And Michael joining the military is NOT just to fight wars. It's all about loving your country and wanting to serve it.
789980
I don't know about education to 22, but defintely 18.  At 17 start as a reservist for a 5 year minimum.  I think that would be a good idea. Abolish the young offenders act, name and shame, stiff punishments and parents held accountable for childrens actions.  Also I think trades should start early, so by the time someone is 21-22 years old they are full journeymen.  I also think that all building contractors should be govt tested and certified journeymen, with apprenticship programs.  Fly by nighters would be a thing of the past, shoddy workmanship...gone. Respectful, educated youths, with a future. No more hoodie culture. Oh, life would be grand.
18098
I think service to the government in some form should be compulsary for all young people although it should not be military except where required. It should be in some form or manner of service (e.g. writing software if you are an IT person, or doing something that is contributing to the welfare of the country).
739366
Yes.  Max age of enlistment was recently raised to 42.
1016047
Your assessment is well reasoned, but I don't agree with your assumption that most people join the military because they have no other choice.\n\nMany people join for the experience, because it's a good first job, and to pay for college.  These are not necessarily the same people who would otherwise be on welfare.\n\nA lot of welfare recipients would not qualify to be in the military.  The military has physical and educational standards.\n\nAlso, a lot of welfare recipients are content to just "get by", while a young man or woman who joins the military has aspirations to improve themselves through education and experience.\n\nRegarding welfare reform, back in the late 1990s, the Newt Gingrich led Congress pressured Bill Clinton into signing a huge welfare reform bill which has transformed the situation for the better.  Millions have been forced to seek employment rather than collect welfare.
447945
Of course.  If people are old enough to vote and die for this country they should have all the priviledges of adults.
950365
I think there should be a compulsory national service of some kind for adults 18-45.\n\nMilitary service could be one of the choices.  Another option for conscientious objectors  should be an in-country service corps (like AmeriCorps VISTA) or the overseas Peace Corps.\n\nNot enough people realize how lucky they are to live in the United States - too many people take their situation for granted.   A national service requirement would change their perspective.\n\nI also believe that an immigrant who served in a national service should be given credit for their time served, if they wanted to pursue immigration by naturalization.\n\n(added 11-20-06)\nReinstatement of the draft significantly raises the "political trigger" for a government to choose to go to war.  If we had the draft in place before sending troops to Iraq in 2003, you can bet there would be a more spirited debate, and we probably would not be in the mess we are now.\n\nAnd immigrants who choose to join the military today can get credit for time served, if they eventually apply for citizenship.  It's a law that has been on the books for many years.
708146
Why not...if 18 is old enough to get sent to Iraq seems like it's old enough to have a Budweiser.
969107
I believe all Americans should serve in some capacity as is done in many countries. (i.e. Israel) However, I believe there should be many capaicties in which to serve such as Peace Corps, Americorps, teaching, medical service, legal aid. \n\nIt was while ago but I saw a report that only 5 children or grandchildren of Congress are serving in the military.
1181299
Military service should never be compulsory. For the last 30 years or so, America has relied upon an all-volunteer force, one that has performed brilliantly when called upon. (The recent news about Haditha is by far the exception).  It has been well documented around the world that countries that use predominantly volunteer forces will field a better military overall ( the only exception being Israel) Look at this way- who is going to be more enthusiastic about serving in the military- someone who wants to be there, or someone who was forced to?
327484
Absolutely.  Except, and here's the kicker....women are NOT held up to same standards as men.  Women scream equality and then refuse to play by the rules.  All Americans should be REQUIRED to serve in military OR do an equal amount of community service as a part of their citizenship.  As far as women in the military...what a joke.  Most (I SAY MOST>>>NOT ALL) do not meet the same standards as men.  They are not required to run as fast or with the same amount of weight in their rucks, they get special exceptions for being pregnant.  When my hubby was in army, all the girls did was have babies..they hardly ever worked and then got out as if they had fulfilled their contracts.  If a women had to cover a man in the field, could she run as fast, shoot as well and carry as much?  How many women in military today could pull a 200 lb. man up off the ground and carry him like most men could do to their female counterparts? Woman need to sign up and play by the rules as they are written. Oh, yeah, and I think women who are in military should have to sign a contract thatthey will not get pregnant while enlisted or risk losing their enlistment.  Career militray women should have to take a sabatical to get pregnant, like the rest of us do.  You can't defend a country and rely on a certain number of personnel when some of them get preggy just to avoid deployment!!! Oh, and by the way..I AM A FEMINIST!
967300
I grew up an Air Force "brat" and am now an Air Force wife, so I guess I'd be considered biased, but I see NO reason why the military should be kept out.\n\nOur Armed Forces are entirely volunteer. When a recruiter goes to a school, he is not forcing kids into signing up. In fact, to sign up on delayed enlistment while under the age of 18 you have to have a parent permission, so it's not like anyone is being duped.\n\nMilitary service provides great opportunities and is also necessary for our country's survival. I don't believe the argument that only the poor and uneducated get railroaded into service. My husband and his brother grew up in a middle class home and are both college educated and are enlisted.\n\nTo keep the military out of schools is to do our students a great disservice. Let them make up their own minds as to whether or not the program is right for them. To do otherwise is to assume they cannot think for themselves.
897554
I think it is an excellent idea.  Immediately after High School, if you're not registered in College,  you go military for 2 years, minimum.  Every one I know, including myself, who went military right out of High School, or College, turned out to be a much better person for it.  They found respect and discipline.
354169
I don't think there should be a specific age limit but you should only run if you're mentally and physically strong enough for it. No one is gonna vote for a really old, completely incompetent person with no common sense anyway.
490636
Part of me says YES it should lowered to 18. BUT I say this ONLY because at the age of 18 you can do ANYTHING that an adult can EXCEPT drink. BUT my biggest reason for saying yes, is because at the age of 18 you can go into the military and you can get drafted into the military and GIVE your LIFE to or for your country. BUT the government is going to say NO you can't DRINK because your not old enough. I feel if you are old enough to chance giving your life for your country then you ARE old enough to drink.\nBUT on the other side at 18 your still a kid and not old enough or should I say mature enough. BUT overall YES. Have a good debate in class. and let me know how it turns out thanks.
156871
pepper, that is wrong...\n\nIf drafted, you do not have the "choice" not to go. Though no draft has occurred since Vietnam. Today's military is completely voluntary, but the draft is and always will be there as an insurance policy if we are ever in an extremely bad situation. And if drafted everyone called must report. Refusal to report can result in action by the government.\n\nAs a matter of fact, I am one that believes that every able bodied person should serve. I believe it would keep us at a better state of preparedness and that it would cut down things such as unemployment and poverty. People who serve receive training that can be used in the public world as job skills. Self reliability and dicipline are also embraced by military training. Those are things that the younger generation of today is sorely lacking overall.\n\nAs for the actual penalties\n\nWhat is the penalty for not registering?\nIf you do not register, you could be prosecuted and fined up to $250,000 and/or be put in jail for up to five years. Registration is also a requirement to qualify for Federal student aid, job training benefits, and most Federal employment.