Service to our country should be expected

Frank Perna, Las Vegas

Friday, Feb. 29, 2008 | 2:05 a.m.

A Feb. 21 editorial in the Las Vegas Sun, “Go Army, go cash,” reported the latest compromises being made in a vain attempt to maintain a volunteer military. The age of recruitment has been raised to 42. Educational requirements have been lowered. There is still an overreliance on the National Guard and Reserves to provide half the manpower, creating a social cost for families.

One would expect these compromises to lead to a debate about returning to the draft. Not the unfair draft of the Vietnam War era, which gave deferments for education and employment, but a draft in which both men and women are eligible and everyone, educated or not, has the honor and duty to serve America.

There should also be an option to serve in the Job Corps, AmeriCorps, the National Guard, the Reserves or the Peace Corps in our hemisphere. Educational credits could be earned in the 18- to 24-month enlistment.

This debate would be valuable in the upcoming election, instead of listening to empty promises and rhetoric.

Service to America by our youth will lead to patriotism, a more responsible citizenry and a pride in our freedom.