Fifty years later, another generation is going to be signed up for military service without being asked if they want to serve. In 1974, my number came up. At that time, there was a Selective Service registration that was required for all young men. We also had an active draft process.

This was because of the Vietnam Conflict. It was never a declared war, much like the current Iranian conflict. President Trump started this action without Congressional approval. It needs to end within a limited time or receive the funding and approval needed.

When the draft ended in 1974, registration continued until it ended about a year later. In 1980, President Carter reinstated the registration during the US action in Afghanistan. The draft has not been started again, even with all the military actions we have involved ourselves in.

Recently, this was back in the news because our government will automatically register eighteen-year-olds without them having to do anything. This is because many of our youth seem to be forgetting to do this. We have the technology to help them with this.

This does not mean that the draft will be reinstated any time soon, we hope. This is purely a development of our technology being applied to this situation. There is no evidence that the government is planning to institute a new draft. Hopefully, our all-volunteer forces will continue to provide the protection we need.

For most of us, we do not know what it means to live in a society where our young people are forced to serve in the military. I believe that if we have a requirement to restore a draft situation, a provision could be made for those such as myself.

President Kennedy began the Peace Corps in the early 1960s, and since then, other organizations have been formed to allow youth to serve here in the US or overseas. In his book “Starship Troopers,” Robert Anson Heinlein described a society where you were not considered a citizen without serving in the Armed Forces.

While RAH is one of my favorite authors, I disagree that everyone who wants to vote must serve their country in the military. Other provisions for those who have personal convictions against fighting can be made. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and similar groups can provide training in skills that will benefit all of us.

Those who come here as immigrants are required to prove their knowledge of our government and culture to become citizens. Having the right to vote should also require education and commitment. It will take a great deal of discussion and preparation to make any changes of this kind. We have a great country, but it could be improved with those changes on which we all agree.

©Copyright 2026 by Charles Kensinger