Adding women to the draft?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a woman (also a veteran). I think young women should sign up for selective service, just as young men do. We can’t complain about wanting equality only when it suits our needs.

You’re making an assumption there. It’s not about just not liking the idea. There are other reasons that our daughters are, simply put, not on the same footing as the men. Gender prejudice, harassment, assault, to name a few.

I have lots of service members in my family. So don’t tell me these are not problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a woman (also a veteran). I think young women should sign up for selective service, just as young men do. We can’t complain about wanting equality only when it suits our needs.

You’re making an assumption there. It’s not about just not liking the idea. There are other reasons that our daughters are, simply put, not on the same footing as the men. Gender prejudice, harassment, assault, to name a few.

I have lots of service members in my family. So don’t tell me these are not problems.

The solution to these problems is not to run away and hide. The solution is to be there, always. If you keep it a man's world, it will always be a man's world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All in for it. Equality everywhere.

Ok. Sure. But let’s start with equal pay, equal reproductive rights etc. why start with the thing that can kill you? Seems a little perverse.

Agree with all, especially reproductive right.
Point is - it's easier to fight for equality if you really mean it, not just look her, don't look there. Consistency is helping, hypocrisy - not.
We can talk priorities of course, but let's at list agree on to-do list first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should absolutely be drafted. If more Americans have skin in the game, it means more pressure on our leaders as they make the decision to go to war.

Wanna get white wealthy Republicans opposed to overseas military adventures? Send their precious sorority daughters to Iraq to dig a ditch or clean the latrine as part of the draft.

I actually think our all-volunteer military allows politicians to be much more reckless with soldiers' lives. Too many Americans are apathetic and not paying attention because it doesn't really affect them.

I honestly would make a mandatory military draft for every American for two years after high school. Allow combat force to be all-volunteer, but force everyone to serve. You see a radical change in how Americans view foreign policy, the MIC, budgets for military, care for vets, etc.

You are completely clueless about the military if that's what you think service members are doing in Iraq. Have you ever met anyone whose been to Iraq?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don’t have a draft, and probably never will again.

+1. And if we did, I would college/grad school/PHD my kid out until they aged out. Or have them sign up for JAG or something.

One doesn't just "sign up for JAG."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All in for it. Equality everywhere.

Ok. Sure. But let’s start with equal pay, equal reproductive rights etc. why start with the thing that can kill you? Seems a little perverse.

Agree with all, especially reproductive right.
Point is - it's easier to fight for equality if you really mean it, not just look her, don't look there. Consistency is helping, hypocrisy - not.
We can talk priorities of course, but let's at list agree on to-do list first.

There has been a to-do list for decades. This is an ongoing fight and getting more women into the military might help.

[Anonymous]

Not until they clean up the sexual assault going on in the military!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not until they clean up the sexual assault going on in the military!

That's why they need more women.

If the military was a 50% female force, there would be a lot less of any of that. Especially with women in higher positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should absolutely be drafted. If more Americans have skin in the game, it means more pressure on our leaders as they make the decision to go to war.

Wanna get white wealthy Republicans opposed to overseas military adventures? Send their precious sorority daughters to Iraq to dig a ditch or clean the latrine as part of the draft.

I actually think our all-volunteer military allows politicians to be much more reckless with soldiers' lives. Too many Americans are apathetic and not paying attention because it doesn't really affect them.

I honestly would make a mandatory military draft for every American for two years after high school. Allow combat force to be all-volunteer, but force everyone to serve. You see a radical change in how Americans view foreign policy, the MIC, budgets for military, care for vets, etc.

You are completely clueless about the military if that's what you think service members are doing in Iraq. Have you ever met anyone whose been to Iraq?

It was hyperbole, you moron. But someone has to do the grunt work - I'd rather it be a conscripted American soldier thinking about the meaning of service & the elite politicians who make decisions on behalf of soldiers than an overpriced contractor in McLean skimming a ton of money and then hiring some local (or an imported Filipino) for pennies on the dollar.

I want the American people to feel the full effects of our foreign policy. The best way to do that is have their young adult children participate with skin in the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a woman (also a veteran). I think young women should sign up for selective service, just as young men do. We can’t complain about wanting equality only when it suits our needs.

I'm not a veteran but totally agree.

-- Mother of a son and a daughter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm for it. The idea that only men are drafted doesn't make any sense.

I guess my question is, why shouldn't women be drafted?

I'm a women, btw.

When there are adequate protections against sexual harassment and assault I. There military, I may support this. Until then, no. (And fwiw, I do t support a draft at all. Even for a son).

You do know the majority of the sexual assaults in the military are men on men right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don’t have a draft, and probably never will again.

+1. And if we did, I would college/grad school/PHD my kid out until they aged out. Or have them sign up for JAG or something.

One doesn't just "sign up for JAG."

Yep the draft deferment is no longer a thing. Your kid in college/grad school would have same chances as the high school drop out. The drafted do not have the option to pick their MOS. Most will go to combat units as replacements.

[Anonymous]

There will never be another draft again. The selective service law is a relic from the Cold War. The all volunteer force is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should absolutely be drafted. If more Americans have skin in the game, it means more pressure on our leaders as they make the decision to go to war.

Wanna get white wealthy Republicans opposed to overseas military adventures? Send their precious sorority daughters to Iraq to dig a ditch or clean the latrine as part of the draft.

I actually think our all-volunteer military allows politicians to be much more reckless with soldiers' lives. Too many Americans are apathetic and not paying attention because it doesn't really affect them.

I honestly would make a mandatory military draft for every American for two years after high school. Allow combat force to be all-volunteer, but force everyone to serve. You see a radical change in how Americans view foreign policy, the MIC, budgets for military, care for vets, etc.

You are completely clueless about the military if that's what you think service members are doing in Iraq. Have you ever met anyone whose been to Iraq?

It was hyperbole, you moron. But someone has to do the grunt work - I'd rather it be a conscripted American soldier thinking about the meaning of service & the elite politicians who make decisions on behalf of soldiers than an overpriced contractor in McLean skimming a ton of money and then hiring some local (or an imported Filipino) for pennies on the dollar.

I want the American people to feel the full effects of our foreign policy. The best way to do that is have their young adult children participate with skin in the game.

ah typical. When you have no logical argument, you resort to insults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a woman (also a veteran). I think young women should sign up for selective service, just as young men do. We can’t complain about wanting equality only when it suits our needs.

You’re making an assumption there. It’s not about just not liking the idea. There are other reasons that our daughters are, simply put, not on the same footing as the men. Gender prejudice, harassment, assault, to name a few.

I have lots of service members in my family. So don’t tell me these are not problems.

The solution to these problems is not to run away and hide. The solution is to be there, always. If you keep it a man's world, it will always be a man's world.

I agree with this. More women in the military means more women advanced to leadership roles. Women in leadership roles can push for and make the changes necessary to improve the military.

Like some of the others that have responded to this thread, I am a female veteran.