Sense and nonsense of the German draft

[UnderseaLcpl]

Far be it form me to say I know best about German domestic policy, but I disagree with Schroeder. If the state of the US military is any indication, more funding does not lead to less screwing around.

Like Schroeder, I see as being one of the soldier. Soldiers in the US are typically drawn from the ranks of those who have nowhere else to go, though there is a nice fraction that is in the service because they want to be in the service. The pay is lousy, and there really isn't much in the way of incentive for the common soldier i.e. little chance for meaningful advancement. It doesn't matter if you're the best soldier in your grade or not, you can't be promoted simply because of ability except in rare circumstances (due to billets for ranks and MOS) The whole system is entirely too stratified, IMO.

However, I also see the problem as being one that conscription policy has created. The US has an all-volunteer force, so presumably the recruits have at least some desire to perform to start with. Not so with a conscription system, unless a wave of nationalist euphoria is sweeping Germany (not meant as a Nazi jab).

I won't bother bringing up privatizing part of the military as a solution since it is such an apparently unpopular idea, but I think a move from conscription to an all-volunteer force would be good for the Bundeswehr. It would cut down on unecessary troops and reduce the number of people who don't want to serve in the first place, leading to a general increase in morale and performance, even if still hamstrung by rigid military structure (not familiar with Bundeswehr organizational structure)

Originally Posted by Schroeder

So this wasn't written by someone who knows something about it.

Perhaps not, but does the author really need to know what the helmets are made of or what the proper term for NBC equipment is? Screwing around is screwing around. We used to play tag with the guy was "it" in full MOPP gear. Call it a hazmat suit if you want but we're still playing tag.

More worrisome is the insidious screwing around that I'm sure goes on. BSing officers, purposely pencil-frakking maintenance and inventory to get it overwith, walking around with clipboards just to look busy, etc.. If the Bundeswehr has time for sleeping-bag races, I can't imagine the level of unseen crap that is going on.

One last thing I will mention is this:

Less money + more misisons in foreign countries = no material for doing anything with draftees.

Presumably, the draftees are already being payed and already have equipment, so I'm sure there is plenty that they could be doing. The Marine Corps is terribly underfunded and they still have a massive ongoing effort to place the entire Mojave desert into little burlap bags, apparently. You just have to be careful with make-work like that. Troops can smell busywork a mile away, and it is bad for morale. If nothing else, they could be training, training, training, and when they get done they can go train some more. There is absolutely no reason why every conscript in the Bundeswehr should not be a crack shot(even if they don't have ammunition), an expert on his specialty, and a capable squad leader.

That's my opinion, anyway.