Young Americans should be required to complete some form of military or civilian public service to ease tensions in the U.S. and as a solution to the decline in civic participation, according to service advocates, military veterans and political commentators, USA Today reports.
Less than 1 percent of U.S. adults are currently on active duty — 1.3 million in today's all-voluntary force compared to 3.1 million in 1996 — according to Census Bureau data. In 2016, 8 percent of adults were serving or had served in the military compared to 18 percent in 1980.
Lloyd Green, former staff secretary to the George H.W. Bush campaign's Middle East Policy Group, recently opined that national service could "bring the role of military into proper perspective," following the dust-up between Chief of Staff John Kelly and Rep. Frederica Wilson.
Added Robert Litan, an economist at the Council on Foreign Relations: "It would create a virtuous cycle." … and "would help bring us together gradually over time."
Government programs like the Peace Corps, FEMA Corps and AmeriCorps give people the option to serve voluntarily outside the military.
"We would like every young person to say, 'wow, where am I going to serve?' And be planning to serve," said Shirley Sagawa, president and CEO of the non-profit Service Year Alliance. Ideally in the future, "you wouldn't dream of electing a president who hasn't served somewhere."
Opponents say Americans shouldn't be forced into civic service, as income is low and many have family responsibilities.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.