With recruitment so low, it’s fair to wonder who will defend the country in the future.
The draft ended back in 1973 after 25 years of conscription. Soldiers that enlisted during WWI and WWII did so out of patriotic duty to serve their country. Does anyone like going into the military to get shouted at and have the hell kicked out of them? Probably not, but the point is that a country without a defense is, in this world, a country that’s looking to be taken over by the nearest superpower that has plenty of guns and no moral filter. The United States is no longer the youngest country in the world and hasn’t been for a while. It’s not even the most powerful if one wants to get technical, but few ever do. One of the more popular ideas around the nation is that America is far more powerful than any other nation, but it’s a statement that is anything but universal.
What’s kind of confusing though is why anyone would think that it’s not a worthy home. A good home is one that’s defending. America isn’t perfect, but it would appear that quite a few individuals over the last several years, decades in fact, have been making it clear that they don’t want to, or for some reason can’t serve their country. The numbers of those enlisting have been going down over the years apparently, and to those who know why this is such an issue, it’s kind of a frightening proposition. Imagine a generation that has no interest in protecting their country, their home, because they no longer think it stands for anything. Granted, that’s a matter of personal choice (and maybe a little unfortunate brainwashing) but it’s also a reason to worry since a country that can’t defend itself is a country waiting to switch hands in terms of leadership.
There are reasons for this, and I’ll go over a few, but the saddening fact is that pride in one’s country isn’t as strong as it used to be. A person could say that times have changed as they always do and that the country is usually less willing to enroll in a position that offers mental, emotional, and physical abuse and teaches them to take the lives of others in times of peace. But there are times when looking at the long run is far more important than recognizing the freedoms we love and take advantage of so often. Seriously, defend our country, or live our lives as civilians? It’s a tough choice for some, but it’s way too easy for others.
Some people want to blame ‘wokeness’ for the lack of enrollment numbers
It would be easy, wouldn’t it? The idea that going woke has been keeping people from enlisting in the military is an idea that many have latched onto. But the fact is that it’s not the main reason, or even one of the top reasons, why the numbers have fallen. People simply don’t want to enlist when America’s safety isn’t threatened in such an obvious way. There are still plenty of people who want to join the armed forces, but the general idea is that joining the military isn’t fun for everyone. Thinking that it’s because there are so many people speaking out concerning America and its policies simply isn’t accurate.
It’s a tough job, there’s no doubt about it
Let’s be honest here, not everyone is made to be in the military. There are pacifists, there are those who are too lazy, and then there are those who simply aren’t fit to enter the military. Any able-bodied individual with their head screwed on right should be able to enlist, right? But there are plenty of people with legitimate issues, be they physical or mental, that aren’t able to serve their country in this manner. Plus, between basic training and whatever comes after, there are a lot of people who might not survive, whether we’re talking mentally or physically. It’s a tough life to lead, even if veterans will gladly tell you about how it changed their lives.
If you can serve, and have the desire, then do your best and hope for the best. Otherwise, there are a lot of people who can’t but would if they could. Then there are those who enjoy their freedoms but aren’t willing to fight for them. All in all, freedom in the USA is a great thing, but sometimes it comes with a few drawbacks, like a serious lack of pride for one’s country, or a desire to serve someone else.
People have different outlooks on life and the need to take life
The act of killing others in the line of duty is not unique to the military, but this is what a lot of people feel is indicative of the armed forces. People are trained to kill, to defend their country, and to defend our way of life. The unfortunate part is that some folks see this as something they can’t, and won’t allow themselves to do. Believe it or not, that’s not a huge issue. Becoming a trained killer isn’t the path that everyone needs to take. The armed forces are diverse in terms of what they offer and what kind of tasks people are asked to perform. But even with that in mind, numbers are way down, and a lot of people are wondering what’s going to become of the modern military. Those who have no compunction toward killing in defense of their country aren’t evil, and those who don’t want to kill aren’t always cowards.
Unfortunately, if this were to become one of the biggest reasons why people don’t want to enlist, it could end up staining the reputation of the military even further. How effective can the military be if they’re not ready to defend their country to the bitter end?
The military has regulations that need to be loosened
To be honest, the requirements to enlist in the US military aren’t that stringent. A person needs to graduate from high school, be competent, of a certain age and is more or less going to find more requirements to drive a car than to enlist in the military. But dropping the moral standards might be necessary, if questionable. Some folks would gladly state that convicted criminals should be enlisted in the military and watched closely, thereby serving their time in service to the country rather than doing nothing and being cared for by the American taxpayer for doing nothing. That’s probably not going to happen, but it does sound like the beginning of an idea.
It’s an option at least, but one that needs a lot of refinement.
WTR? (Why’s That Radass?)
Think about it, a country with little to no real defense is a country that should be worried about the next super-power in line. There are a few countries out there that would love to see the USA humbled. Like it or not, our military is necessary, and getting this point across to the young men and women that are growing up should be a priority.
