Notes

Mandatory military service is an uncomfortable thought for many, calling to mind the horrors of the American Civil War, the World Wars, and the Vietnam War; times when young men were drafted against their will. This leads us to the question: should military service in the United States be required? Today I stand in affirmation of the following topic: Military Service in the United States Should be Required.

To begin, military service would foster unity and bring people from diverse backgrounds together. For instance, Switzerland has had mandatory military service for several years now and it's proved that mandatory service can bring positive effects onto a country. The website thelocal.ch reads, “Switzerland was named the ‘Best Country in The World’ for three years in a row because of factors including its economic and political stability.”

Furthermore, the percentage of volunteer rates in America are slowly starting to decrease, which can make the country unprepared for any upcoming threats or wars. The article “Demographics of the U.S. Military” writes, “The United States ended the draft for military service in 1973...At the time, the active component of the military comprised 2.2 million men and women. Now, this group comprises just under 1.29 million, or less than 0.5 percent of the U.S. population.”

In addition, many people who have served in the military have not only learned about how to shoot straight or how to be aware of your surroundings, but they also have been taught far beyond technical skills to get the job done. Many military volunteers pursuing jobs in the civilian workforce have claimed they learned several helpful skills during their time serving. These skills include teamwork, responsibility, stress management, diversity and global awareness. While others learn the habits of healthy living, discipline, and develop skills in self-defense .
For these reasons, I affirm the debate statement.