One veteran in support of the new draft

It seems the idea of reviving selective service or the draft for the military is not going to go anywhere, particularly during this election season. It's understandable, of course. Only one member of the Congress has an offspring in the military, and a draft could end that lofty, protected position. If Vice President Dick Cheney could get five draft deferments because he had "other things to do," then why should any congressional child have to serve? Or any wealthy kid? Or any college kid?

It's an odd concept for America - to have paid Roman-style legions rather than Minute Men fighting our wars. That hardly seems to fit in with the concept of a citizens' country. In 1917-18 the draft called more than 2 million men to service. For World War II, more than 10 million were drafted.

The Vietnam War needed the draft. More than 1.8 million were called, and some critics claim that the blacks and other minorities were disproportionately drafted. That all ended in 1973, when the services went professional.

So, where does that leave us? Apparently with a short-handed Army. The original 120,000 streamlined Army of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was enough to win the war but not the peace, as the daily news shows daily. It was a violation of Secretary of State Colin Powell's doctrine of massive force in, assured quick exit out.

What does it all add up to? As someone who served in the tail end of the Korean War, U.S. Air Force duty was fun, exciting and educational. Yes, I was ROTC, so it was hardly grunt time. But I learned about a new part of the world, to me, Japan. And I found out how difficult it was to command men. (I messed up a Retreat ceremony at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver with President Eisenhower watching. Never was sure about left and right afterward.)

And the Air Force got me out of a comfort zone, forced me to measure up, required that I take responsibility for men and realize I had a duty. It got me out of safe Dayton, Ohio, and into a demanding, harsh world.

And that's why I think the draft should be reinstated. I've talked about this with veterans of my age, liberal and conservative. Every one of them agrees that the military helped instill discipline, a sense of responsibility and even (don't giggle) a love of country. The cliché "makes a man of you" seems to apply. And yes, under the existing laws, conscientious objectors would be allowed to opt out.

Most European countries still have a draft system, with varying terms of service. There is little public opposition to the draft there. I have distant relatives serving in the Bundeswehr, all college graduates. Yes, some complaints, but not outright revolt. It's odd that we should be the only Western country to not ask all our youth to serve.

The new draft would be more equitable. No five deferments because of "better things to do." The new draft, on the books but not implemented, would defer college students for a semester, seniors for the last academic year. At age 26, men would be out of the draft.

Which, of course, raises an interesting question: What about women? The current law specifies males only. It would have to be amended to include the distaff side. Would women rise up and demand to be drafted? I'll sidestep that.

Well, youths still have to register for the draft at 18. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to $250,000 and five years in the stockade. I mean, jail. Not that there isn't plenty of weasel room for forgetting to sign up.

Mothers, I suspect, would rise up in fury. After all, a draftee Army might have to fight in places like Iran or Pakistan. Not fair! I don't think mothers of sons in Iraq would agree on a pass for the rich and educated.

Fathers? I dunno. If you served, I suspect you would be for the draft unless Vietnam soured you. Old vets? Yeah, most would be for it.

Now, if I had shouted, "Column, left!" instead of "Column, right," maybe I never would have left the Air Force until it discarded me. But three years were enough. Besides, I had other things to do.

Sam Bauman is entertainment editor for the Nevada Appeal. Reach him at sbauman@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1236.

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Barry Smith is on vacation. His column will return next week.