26 March 2010

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?

21 comments:

moose1942 said...

Hmm this sounds like something that can be done at MEPS before shipping off.

It's true that how can one uphold and defend the document if one hasn't at least read the dang thing.

It REALLY pisses me off that schools don't devote an entire semester or two to just the constitution, BOR and Declaration of Independence.

In my little sphere I try and fix that unfortunate situation. In my scout troop I covered the Declaration of Independence last week and will introduce them to the BOR next week.

Aaron said...

I love the idea of educating our service members before they take an oath far too many don't understand. I would make a slight alteration though, do it all at MEPS, since that's where the oath is initially administered. Hell, make it a part of the DEP process. If you live close enough to the MEPS, you simply drive in from home, if not put the potential recruit up in a nearby hotel.

This would save on a lot of plane tickets and make the learning process a bit less alien seeming to the recruit.

Aaron said...

You have given me an idea, however. Something new to pester the local CO about.

Larry said...

Good for you Moose, teach them well.
I had to pass a semester of American Government in high school, but IMO one semester isn't enough. It should be covered in depth during American History class, but it wasn't.
Thanks for dropping by!

Larry said...

Aaron, I lived 70 miles away from my MEPS station and so I didn't get to the Delayed Entry Program meetings where one would logically place these classes.
I'm specifying the basic training camp for a couple of reasons. Reason one, it lets the prospects see what kind of life they can look forward to if they do join up, and second, the military is taking their time so they should get paid for it. Even if they get stuck with the two way plane ticket and one month's pay or so, I'm thinking it would still be cheaper in the long run. Either way, no recruit could ever say that they didn't know what they were getting into.
No more "conscientious objector" discharges either. This little stint would clear the air pretty thoroughly.

Larry said...

Glad to have tickled your thinker Aaron. Thanks for dropping by!

Greg said...

Sounds like something that should have happened even back when we joined ...

Larry said...

You are absolutely right Greg, along with some financial management classes (figuring that this would be a first for most of the newbies; first job, first bank account, etc).
Thanks for dropping by!

Mike Mendez said...

In the Marines when General Krulak was Commandant, he instituted a rank based required reading list. Every rank had to read the Constitution. Granted this was after a Marine was in the fleet, but better late than never.

Larry said...

At least they got that much.
Thanks for dropping by Mike!

cmblake6 said...

Just linked this at mine. That is just brilliant.

Guy S said...

As an ol' retired Squid, I like it!! Along with other commentators above, I also have to agree, it would have been a good thing to have way back when "we" were beginning our life/career in the service of our choice.

As far a "conscientious objectors" go, they should be "weeded out" at the recruiting station. Something to the tune of "Are you now, or ever have been a conscientious objector? If so, have you since, or do you now, relinquish any claim to this stated belief?" If the answer is no to the second question, then out the door you go. No harm, no foul. And the military saves at least a couple of bucks weeding these folks out. Oh, and if any recruiter is, shall we say, less than honest in how they filled out the paperwork ... or they were less than straight forward in explaining this part to their potential client ... well they get to have a little bit of time spent in front of "the man" in the form of "Office Hours" or "Captain's Mast".

cmblake6 said...

Well, shoot. It doesn't show where I linked you. I've got a post on this post of yours. Let me simply say, superb.

cmblake6 said...

An addendum: That same requirement for ANY federal elected official to be allowed to run for office. ANY person wishing to be in that position must demonstrate that same education, and provide documentation. Should they have an Honorable Discharge from the military, they would then have said documentation, obviously.

Larry said...

Sounds good to me. Maybe if they knew what was in there, and more importantly what wasn't, there wouldn't be as many problems.
Thanks for dropping by cmblake!

Larry said...

It looks like the link is working fine BTW.

Larry said...

GuyS, as far as I'm concerned any military member who claims to be a conscientious objector should face courts martial for cowardice and be dishonorably discharged, then presented with the bill for his or her training. Even corpsmen have combat roles, so there's no excuse for it.
Thanks for dropping by!

Guy S said...

Larry, I agree. What I was suggesting is this type of individual (and or those who "fake" same) could be easily weeded out in the initial stages of the recruiting process (we used to call it "blueprinting"). As for those who are already in, before this would take effect ... yeah a "Big Chicken Dinner" along with a bill for "services rendered", does not seem too harsh at all. But then I am a soft hearted ol Squid.

Guy S said...

Oh, and added you to my links, over at my bit of fluff on the net. "We Squids have to stick together, ya know!!"

Larry said...

It just always seemed to me that a C.O. joining the military was like a PETA member working in a meat packing plant. Eventually nothing good can come of it.
Your link has been reciprocated. We do, indeed, have to stick together!

Aaron said...

Another old squid? Excellent...