General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This message was self-deleted by its author [View all]nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)with a volunteer force that pretty much did not say no Sir at any one moment. It is very easy to do so with a volunteer force.
Suppose that if I told you the Brass also opposes a draft since they got problems, not with draftees fighting, but with draftees coming home and doing things like throwing their medals at the Pentagon. They were right. A praetorian guard would not do that.
Worst, some of those draftees when to college and activated other youth. And then a few dared to go to Congress. Winter solder pretty much came from those nasty draftees. So the brass concluded that they did not want ever again to deal with draftees. It was the wrong conclusion. After all draftees will not resist what is perceived as a good war, see WW II, but they will resist an unpopular one, see Vietnam.

And given that most of the history of the US Military we have had a professional force drawn from the poor and rural areas, led by mostly Southern Officers...with some hailing from northern rural and small towns...or the inner city.
Yup, all groups drew different lessons from Nam, but ironically they all agree, we do not need no stinking draft. (And there are valid reasons for not wanting a Nam type of a draft by the way)
But to always be opposed to service, allows the attacks, very successful mind you, on all public institutions. Reagan was right, the nine words to be feared is "I am from the government and I am here to help you." I think that has been internalized in the US at some scary levels, and civil service would help reverse that. Don't worry they are not going to do that. They don't want that.
Don't worry, it ain't coming back, we are all navel gazing here. But I will defend somebody who is getting bullied for expressing a view that her seniors find abhorrent on many emotional grounds.
Then there are those of us who saw our husbands (I know they volunteered who cares?) do back to back pacs, with an up tempo that has pretty much done major damage to morale and the force, But hey, they volunteered, who the fuck cares? But hey, we support the troops, HOORAY!!!