Military conscription promotes equality amongst citizens

The military draft allows for a country's fighting force to be truly representative of society. This is in strict contrast to the system that is exercised in times of peace. Specifically, many countries adopt varying forms of an all-volunteer force. Yet, this hardly allows for equality. Instead, volunteers are more likely to come from a working-class and minority background.^[1] However, a solution to this inequality is found in the adoption of a modern-day military draft. As a result, an individual originating from any socioeconomic status or ethnic background has an equal chance of executing their civil duty. Such an effect is heightened with the inclusion of women, thus allowing mandatory military conscription to be democratizing.^[2] In summary, mandatory service will not only strengthen the military, but it will also reduce the burden of the disproportionate number of minority and working-class soldiers making sacrifices.^[3] In turn, by bringing about a more equal divide in service, mandatory work also promotes a sense of unity among individuals from an array of backgrounds.^[4] This idea is championed by conservatives and liberals alike. For example, both Charles Rangel (D) of New York and Sen. Chuck Hagel (R) of Nebraska not only lobbied for the implementation of mandatory conscription, but they also contended that a draft would equalize the burden of sacrifice more justly.^[5]