Final answer:
Debates regarding the reinstatement of the US military draft encompass historical, practical, and ethical considerations. Historically, drafts were used when voluntary enlistment was insufficient for military needs; today, the question of reinstating it touches on the balance between national security and the values society places on mandatory service versus voluntary enlistment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether the US government should bring back the military draft is heavily rooted in historical context — specifically, the histories of World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam conflict where conscription was employed to meet military needs. Historically, the draft was used when volunteer enlistment was deemed insufficient for military needs, such as during World War I when the Selective Service Act of 1917 expanded to require all men between eighteen and forty-five to register. This was a response to the need for a large military force to participate in modern warfare, which required the full mobilization of not only troops but also the industry to produce food, equipment, and materials vital for the war effort. In World War II, a peacetime draft was initiated for the first time in American history, with the 1940 Selective Service Act categorizing men based on their eligibility for service. Moreover, during the Vietnam War, the Selective Service System drafted men into combat, which increasingly led to resistance and a search for deferments.
While conscription has historically been a tool for military build-up, contemporary perspectives on mandatory military service vastly differ, with some arguing for equity and shared national service while others advocate for an all-volunteer force by pointing to the impact of deferments and exemptions, which historically allowed certain groups, often White middle-class youth, to avoid the draft or choose their military roles. Today, all males in the United States are required to register for Selective Service at 18, which may soon extend to females. Any change in this policy, such as reinstating the draft, would depend on the assessment of the national security needs and the values that society places on mandatory service versus voluntary enlistment.