Bringing back the draft

President Bush’s decision to send an additional 20,000-plus American troops to Iraq has students questioning if a draft will be brought back.

The possibility of reinstating the draft does seem to be more myth than reality, but students at VCU hold a variety of views. Marketing and business major Josh Wilberger, 19, said the draft could worsen the situation in Iraq, but he is dedicated to the country.

“I think the draft should not be reinstated, but if called upon to serve my country, yes, I would,” Wilberger said. “I feel it’s part of my civic duty.”

History education major Joey Wingo, 20, said he doesn’t favor the draft, and should be able to decide his own future.

“Being an American means you should have the right to choose whether you want to serve or not,” Wingo said.

Amy Capistran, a VCU student and member of a National Guard maintenance company, was one of many American troops who experienced serving in Iraq first-hand. Capistran volunteered to serve in the military, but she doesn’t support a draft.

“I believe we are going to need to do something because the Army, especially the guard and reserve components, are stretched thin,” Capistran said. “I fear bringing back a draft is only throwing more bodies at a losing cause.”

Capistran said transitioning back to civilian life after military service can be challenging.

“It was great to be back in a place with indoor plumbing and a real bed,” Capistran said. “But it was difficult to get back into the swing of personal relationships. The world goes on while we’re gone, and we want to jump back into our lives where we left off. That can be hard.”

Currently, American male citizens between 18 and 25 are required to register in the Selective Service System.

Rep. Charles Rangel, D-NY, is a main force in keeping the possibility of a draft alive. Rangel told the New York Times that those being sent to Iraq are either minorities or the less fortunate, and the draft would provide a true representation of America.

The draft is now being discussed in Congress and is expected to meet the same fate as it did in 2003 when Rangel proposed the plan. The vote was 402-2 in the House of Representatives, with Rangel joining the majority and voting against his own bill.