Uncle Sam Says, I Want You!" - The Politics of the Draft and National Service"

Abstract

Abstract : There currently appears to be a widespread general consensus among politicians, military leaders, and academics that the military draft is no longer a viable policy option for the United States in the 21st century. Despite this general consensus against the draft, and given the questionable viability of the all-volunteer force (AVF), this monograph explores the following critical question: Is a military draft still a viable manpower policy for the United States? The framework for analysis combines Professor John Kingdon's notion of policy windows and Carl von Clausewitz' paradoxical trinity. The author provides a detailed analysis of the four major draft enactments or periods in U.S. history -- Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Cold War -- to show that the factors that resulted in a military draft in the nation's past are just as relevant in the 21st century. Given the unique demands of the global war on terrorism, a volunteer national service program that calls for military or civilian service is needed, even though the current political climate appears to offer little chance of its acceptance. A volunteer national service program could consist of four types of service: the military, AmeriCorps, homeland security, and the Peace Corps.