Civic Duties

I've been kicking around an idea.

Most military recruits, in fact most Americans, have no idea what our Constitution actually says or what it means. Since military recruits are sworn to support and defend that particular document it would probably be a good idea for them to know what it says.

My proposal is as follows: When the potential recruit reports for basic training, he or she is immediately enrolled in class. This is done before any oaths are administered, and for the duration of this class the potential recruit's liberties are not restricted in any way. He or she keeps his/her curly locks and may come and go as they please, they will be fed and sheltered by the military at the military installation where they are training at no cost to themselves, and the only responsibility they have is to show up for class. They will even draw a paycheck at the rank of E-1R (recruit) for the duration of this training.

Failure to show up for class without proper authorization will result in a letter of rejection entered into the potential recruit's service record. The potential recruit will be denied the opportunity to take the oath and will be returned to his or her home of record with an RE-4A re-enlistment code and a "failure to complete military training" annotation in his or her service record. No further administrative or disciplinary actions will be taken. This is a volunteer service, after all.

The class will consist solely of the history, text, context and meaning of the Constitution of the United States, to include: the reasons for the Constitutional Convention that created that document; the articles therein and the debate surrounding the adoption of the articles as they were written; an examination of the first ten amendments (known as the Bill of Rights) and the debate surrounding the adoption of these amendments (including a study of the Federalist Papers); and a study of the rest of the amendments, the reasons for their adoption, the debate surrounding each one, and the results of their adoption. Tests will be given on each section to assure the students understand the materials.

At any time the student can request disenrollment by reporting to the Personnel Office. The aforementioned RE-4A re-enlistment code and "failed to complete military training" entry will be made in their service record, a ticket to their home of record will be issued, and the matter will be considered closed.

The next class will be a study of the oath of enlistment. The history, text and meaning will be topics of discussion, with additional discussions on such topics as "The Nuremburg Defense: Why It Doesn't Work" and "Orders: Lawful or Unlawful, And How To Tell The Difference." The potential recruit will be tested to ensure that he or she fully understands each and every aspect of the oath. Again, the student can disenroll at any time by reporting to the Personnel Office.

At the completion of the required training, the potential recruit will be placed on one week of administration leave. During that time the recruit can go and do whatever he or she pleases with orders to report back to the installation the following Monday for the administration of the oath and the completion of the enlistment process (including the drug test, so behave yourself kids).

Should the potential recruit not show up, his or her service record will be annotated as noted before. Should the potential recruit choose to opt out of military service he or she may report to the Personnel Office to receive a ticket home (with the appropriate entries made in his or her service record). Again, no further administrative or disciplinary actions will be taken in either case.

Only after the prospective recruit has been fully informed of the gravity of his or her proposed duties, and only after the prospective recruit has been fully tested as to their understanding of it, and only after the prospective recruit has been given the opportunity to reflect on the actions which they are about to undertake, will they be allowed to take the Oath of Enlistment. At that time the prospective recruit becomes Recruit, with the rank of E-1, and is placed into the chain of command.

Even those who choose to hightail it on home will be better for the experience, and those who choose to take the oath will be fully cognizant of the burden they are about to take up.

What do you think of my proposal?