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No. 351

August 31, 1999

Fixing What Ain't Broke

The Renewed Call for Conscription

by Doug Bandow

Executive Summary

would yield higher turnover, thus increasing

The United States has relied on a volunteer

training costs. Also, because few conscripts

military for most of its history. However, the

choose to make the military a career, the Pent-

Cold War transformed a number of American

agon would have to hike reenlistment benefits.

institutions, including the armed services. Wash-

A draft would not improve the retention

ington retained conscription after World War II

rate of skilled personnel or inculcate civic

and did not abandon the practice until 1973.

virtue. The military does have some serious

Despite a rocky start, the All-Volunteer Force

personnel problems; however, such problems

(AVF) now works exceedingly well, providing

could be solved by returning to a foreign poli-

America with the best military in its history and

cy that is proper for a republic. The Clinton

in the world today. Yet recruiting and retention

administration's promiscuous use of military

problems have begun to appear; moreover, the

force in conflicts irrelevant to U.S. security drives

war against Yugoslavia has heightened concerns

many potential recruits away from and current

about the fairness of a volunteer military. The

career personnel out of the service. Further-

result has been an increasing number of calls for

more, policymakers should adjust compensa-

a return to conscription.

tion and benefits to more successfully attract

The draft was bad policy during the Cold War

both new recruits and skilled personnel in the

and would constitute amazing foolishness

years ahead.

today. For instance, renewed conscription would

A renewed draft would be bad for the mili-

reduce the quality of new service personnel.

tary. But more important, conscription would

Returning to the draft would also increase the

be unfair and unjust--sacrificing the very con-

costs of raising a military force. Conscription is

stitutional liberties that the military is charged

an expensive process--for individuals, govern-

to defend.

ment, and society. For the armed services, a draft

___________________________________________________________________________________

Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. He is the author or editor of several books, including

Tripwire: Korea and U.S. Foreign Policy in a Changed World and Human Resources and Defense

Manpower, and was a special assistant to President Reagan.