Will there ever be a draft again?

[dclpluto]

I think I'm missing your point. Do you think pay & benefits don't encourage people to join?

you do it to serve your country. Most people can get more pay if they wasn’t in the military. Military doesn’t pay that good unless you are a officer or a staff Nco. Going in your not going to make much.

 

[kanerf]

Our warfare today is mostly with smart weapons that actually require fewer people to operate them. There would be little need for a draft at this point.

 

[VandVsmama]

Not touching this one with a 10 foot pole.

 

[RamblingMad]

you do it to serve your country. Most people can get more pay if they wasn’t in the military. Military doesn’t pay that good unless you are a officer or a staff Nco. Going in your not going to make much.

You don't have much in expenses either. One of my friends growing up preferred military life to civilian life. It's a life choice assuming you can meet the health requirements.

 

[GAN]

you do it to serve your country. Most people can get more pay if they wasn’t in the military. Military doesn’t pay that good unless you are a officer or a staff Nco. Going in your not going to make much.

Ohhh ...sure absolutely. Some would do it for free, but others definitely do it because they see a better future for themselves from the experience AND get pay, medical, free education which are all great incentives. TVguy can speak for himself but I didn't take it that he felt people were only doing it for benefits. The government offers those things because they know it's a way for some people to earn money and get their lives on a good track -otherwise it would be 100% volunteer. Some countries require service of all citizens(male) like Switzerland ..not sure if there are any benefits but could ask my relatives who served.

 

[tvguy]

By reading this I can tell you haven’t spent one day in the military. Correct me if I’m wrong

I have not, why? The military has met all their recruiting goals that I am aware of. And while I am glad my children decided against a military career, many of the children of my friends who are the same age as my children. cited the reasons I listed as reasons for why they selected the military as their career path. Oh, I married into an Air Force family.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

I also doubt a draft. Our active duty military is about 1.5 million. We have a little over 1 million in the reserve forces. This doesn't include the national guard which was front lined deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The reserve force would likely be activated before a draft. Those numbers for the reserves doesn't include the inactive reserves. So when someone initially enlists for a 4 year commitment their commitment is actually 6 years. If they get out after 4 years they don't have to drill or anything for years 5 and 6, but they are basically on a recall list (inactive reserves) which would hit before a draft.

 

[neverlandsky]

Oldest received their Selective Service Registration Card in the mail after turning 18 and has to keep their correct information on file until 25 years old. Can there be a draft again? Yes. Will there be a draft again?

 

[Colleen27]

No. Warfare is more technological now and requires less "boots on the ground" manpower, so there is not likely to be any need for a draft.

 

[tvguy]

You don't have much in expenses either. One of my friends growing up preferred military life to civilian life. It's a life choice assuming you can meet the health requirements.

Kid who used to live next door has been in the Navy 15 years and is a Chief Petty Officer Second Class (E-5). Checking Navy pay scales online, his base pay* is $3,704 a month/$44,448 a year. He has full screen medical/dental/vision care. Checking Navy housing scales**, he gets an additional $2,133 a month/$25,596 a year housing allowance (he is in Seattle). His specialty is as a Lab Tech, and because of covid he qualified for a $100,000 bonus*** for reenlisting for an additional 2 years. He plans to stay in the Navy until he can retire.
That's more money than I ever made.

*https://www.federalpay.org/military/navy

**https://militarybenefits.info/2021-bah-basic-allowance-for-housing-rates/

***https://www.navytimes.com/news/2020...re-ratings-eligible-for-reenlistment-bonuses/

 

[Brett Wyman]

Never say never, but I don’t think we’ll see a draft again. Technology is too advanced at this point to require it.

 

[Karin1984]

A draft is necessary when you do not have enough people willing to fight. As long as countries think they have enough people, there is no reason for a draft.

 

[OKW8297]

I’m mum… cause I don’t want points lolololol

Same

 

[mjkacmom]

I wonder when 18 year old men will no longer be required to register for Selective Service.

 

[kdonnel]

you do it to serve your country. Most people can get more pay if they wasn’t in the military. Military doesn’t pay that good unless you are a officer or a staff Nco. Going in your not going to make much.

Not everyone joins the military for such grandiose reasons.

I have never served but known many who did/do. Having attended a senior military college I was friends with hundreds of people who ended up in the military. They all seemed to do it for different reasons. Money was a big motivator.

The people I graduated with are now either retired or Colonels. Those still in are making 140k a year and will retire in their 40s or early 50s with a retirement of close to 60k a year with time to start a second career.

Or they will make General and will remain in longer and retire with a larger yearly pension.

Edited to add:
I also grew up in a military family in a military town, Columbus GA / Fort Benning. A large percentage of the people I graduated high school with enlisted. Not because they wanted to serve their country but because enlisting provided them with a great career path that with work guaranteed promotion and stability.

My dad's reasoning for enlisting? He just turned 17, child number 16 of 17, and needed a job, that at the time accepted those without a high school diploma.

 

[kdonnel]

I wonder when 18 year old men will no longer be required to register for Selective Service.

I wonder when 18 year old women will be required to register for Selective Service.

https://rollcall.com/2021/10/05/congress-moves-toward-requiring-women-to-register-for-the-draft/

 

[Orion Nebula]

I don't think there ever will be again. I couldn't imagine the government even attempting it in modern times. The amount of public and political backlash would be severe. The younger generations also tend to have different views on the effectiveness of involvements in general.

 

[georgina]

I wonder when 18 year old women will be required to register for Selective Service.

https://rollcall.com/2021/10/05/congress-moves-toward-requiring-women-to-register-for-the-draft/

I always thought it was unfair that my DS had to register but my 2 DDs didn't.

DH is old enough that he had a number for Viet Nam, but things ended before he was called up.

 

[Sinder]

I sure hope not and my first thought is no it would never happen.
My second thought is that in the last couple if years I’ve seen things that I also thought would never happen.

 

[MamaMermaid]

I don't know anything but I have a genuine question. Not meant to be offensive so I'll just put that disclaimer out now: aren't there enough career military folks for a non-world war?