America's Upper Classes Have Gone AWOL

WashDad
Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:27:52 +0000

It’s a nice essay, and points out a real source of concern. Even WashMom, the daughter of a Navy test pilot and niece of several professional soldiers and sailors freaked out at the idea of her sons going through ROTC and into the service (not that we are particularly elite).

A draftee army is not nearly as good as the one we have now. However, the draft did provide this common ground of experience. Draftee armies also suffer much higher casualties, and don’t finish conflicts quickly. I still come down on the side of the volunteer military, but I sure understand what we, as a nation, are giving up.