Mandatory National Service

A recent opinion piece in Politico advocates for national service for your 18-to-28 year olds.  (http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/national-service-is-key-to-national-strength-93069.html?hp=l11 By JOHN BRIDGELAND and ALAN KHAZEI)

As far as the authors go, a good case is made for the benefits the nation and its people will receive from national service.  However, the authors state such service would be voluntary, but expected.  Expectation will not provide the ultimate benefits the authors identify.  Only through mandatory national service can these be attained.

Agreeing with the authors that national service can be in the military or civilian components (Peace Corps for example), I see benefits far beyond what is described in the opinion piece.  Here are a few of the more important:

• Instilling and reinforcing membership in the citizenry of our nation.
• Learning, at a relatively young age, to work as a member of a team in pursuit of larger-than-self goals.
• Breaking down stereotypes and racial barriers by living and working with fellow Americans from across the nation.
• Developing maturity during a critical stage in development, prior to entering higher education or the workforce.
• Learning how group discipline and self discipline are intertwined for achieving common good.
• Acquiring hard skills.
• Breaking welfare cycles prevalent in some families.
• Benefitting the nation by contribution.

Perhaps not thought of by the above authors, my vision of national service includes every citizen being required to perform the service as soon as they graduate high school or turn 18, whichever occurs last.  With due accord given to individual desires, while nonetheless meeting the needs of the nation, these young folks would be directed to report to either military or civilian program induction centers three months after high school graduation or turning 18.  From the induction centers, after initial assessment and processing, the individuals would be transported to either military boot camps or one of three civilian program boot camps.  In either case, service begins by leaving home and going somewhere else.  For this national service model to fully function, it must be a residential, not commuter, program.  (Many universities require such an approach, having learned that success is more likely when the students are fully immersed in their educations by residing on campus.)  The military boot camps would continue to operate as directed by their respective service chief.  The civilian boot camps would be modeled after military boot camps, including communal living, exercise, and training.  Just as done with the military, the civilian boot camps would continue the assessment of the individuals to ascertain where best their capabilities and proclivities can be employed for the betterment of the nation.  Once boot camp is completed, the individuals are sent to their respective assignments, completing additional training as/if needed.  Inclusive of induction, boot camp, and service, there is a three year obligation.  Pay and benefits, including health care, would be identical to the enlisted military.

During the period of national service, our citizens will also undergo various interest inventories to help them identify suitable career fields.  As it stands today, far too many of our citizens who enter higher education pursue the wrong major, because of a lack of proper planning.  Time, effort, and money are wasted as these students shift from one major to another.  In addition to the interest inventories, our fellow citizens will also receive mandatory training on civics, money management, and leadership.  These are skills most often missing from the individual as he/she first enters the work place. 

To fully integrate national service into our national psyche, the legislation creating instituting it will include the following:

• Only U.S. citizens can participate in national service and accrue benefits from it.
• Eligibility for any and all federal employment will require successful completion of national service.
• Time spent in national service will be included in computing retirement from any and all federal employment.
• Eligibility for federal financial aid will require successful completion of national service.
• Upon successfully completing national service, each individual will be eligible for a federal grant of $15,000 that can be applied to education (post secondary or vocational).
• Eligibility for federal home loans will require successful completion of national service.
• Eligibility to run for or be appointed to federal office will require successful completion of national service.
• Eligibility for federal contracts will require successful completion of national service.
• Eligibility for entrance to any of the military academies or other federal schooling will require successful completion of national service.
• Those who volunteer for and successfully complete military or civilian service, meeting the requirements set forth for national service, will be considered to have met the requirements and thus receive all the specified benefits.  (In this way, if one desires to serve in the Peace Corps, rather than be assigned to a form of national service, he/she can still be given credit for meeting the requirement.)

The specifics of the civilian component(s) of national service can build upon what currently exists and further expanded by working with state and local governments.  Established and regularly reviewed by Congress and the Executive Branch, it is envisioned some of the components would be fairly constant, such as maintaining our federal parks, school tutoring, assisting seniors, and the like.  Other components could be designed to meet relatively short term goals and needs, such as disaster assistance.  But in every case, the workforce established by national service must contribute to the national good (not an individual legislator's pet project).  Exceptional care must be taken in crafting the legislation to establish firewalls preventing political interference or gain.

It is acknowledged that some of our citizens may not qualify for participation in national service, such as the severely physically and mentally challenged among us.  Likewise, there may be cases of exceptionally severe hardship that would preclude an individual from participating.  However, the enacting legislation must fairly, equitably, and painstakingly address these matters.  It must not become a case, as seen during the time of the military draft, wherein the off spring of the well connected and wealthy are either exempted or given special consideration.

Mandatory national service will benefit the nation, establish and maintain our national identity, breakdown stereotypes and racial barriers, expand the experience base for all citizens, and benefit the nation as a whole.  Upon completing national service, our youth will be better prepared to be fully productive members of society.