Revisit compulsory military service
Published:Tuesday | August 24, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
With the myriad problems facing our nation, I think it is time for Jamaica to seriously consider mandatory military service. I am aware this is not a new idea; we do, however, need to start in a new direction with our young people. We need to re-establish as a nation, a sense of patriotism and pride of citizenship.
Assimilating into the military the young people who would not be entering college or trade schools would be a plus all round for the country.
(1) We begin to instil discipline that is absent from those teenagers from homes that did not provide guidance.
(2) They would be taught skills that become invaluable to their and the country's future.
(3) The Government would be given breathing room to find investment opportunities for them after their service.
(4) They would be put into the communities all across the country cleaning drains, gullies constructing walls,sidewalks, building homes for seniors using the assets the army already has and, of course, swelling the ranks of the security forces.
(5) The country could pull a better crop of police officers and other public servants from this pool of more disciplined talent.
(6) Crime goes down as the idle hands are given work.
More value for money
These young people would be paid from the monies doled out to politicians in the constituency development fun and other public agencies where corruption is rife; there would be more accountability, less corruption, and more value for money.
To those who argue we would be training criminals, the evidence points in the other direction, military service builds character. Second, military training does not mean teaching everyone how to fire a weapon.
Countries like Israel and Cuba have shown the benefit of military service to young minds and by extension, countries. This solution, though not a panacea, for all our problems seem to be the best way forward for Jamaica, considering the berth of challenges and the limitations associated with our lack of resources.
I am, etc.,
MIKE BECKLES
Poughkeepsie
New York