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Another Branch of Service:
This is the fire season in America's western states. We see reports
every evening about the ongoing struggle against the unrelenting
forces of nature. Houses and even lives are lost. This same thing
happened last year and has happened many times in past years.
The news stories are always the same. There are not enough fire
fighters and the ones there are exhausted. The authorities bring
in national guard and army personnel, but they are not the appropriate
specialists. They have plenty of heart, but they have to be trained.
That takes time and lack of time is part of the problem.
When there are not fires, there are floods, mud slides, and a few etceteras. These occur in various place at various times. It seems that there is always some kind of domestic emergency somewhere, requiring skilled people who are usually not quickly available.
This brings me to my proposal. We now have, the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Coast Guard, the National Guard, and the Marines. I hope I did not leave anyone out. If I did, it was not intentional. All that I cited are specialized service branches. In addition to these groups, I would like to propose another specialized branch of service. I would call it the Domestic Response Force (DRF).
As I visualize it, this would be an internal emergence response group. It would not be an armed military group. It's weapons would be fire trucks, airplanes, boats, shovels, and whatever other equipment is necessary in meeting natural disasters like forest fires. Its purpose would be to respond quickly and to deal quickly with any and all internal emergency situations.
I see this force as an honorable alternative to military service. The recruits would be trained as firemen, paramedics, mountain climbers, sea rescue people, and whatever else is necessary. These folks would be professionals in every sense of the word. They would be ready to go anywhere in the United States within 24 hours. They should be able to get anywhere in one day, even if it means an air drop.
Although not a military unit, their life style would be very military like. It is a legitimate branch of service and disciplined training and behavior would be a requisite. Along with that, there would necessarily be a term of service. It can't be something you can join and then quit if you don't like it. Once in, the recruit would have a tour of duty requirement. Honorable discharge and/or re-enlistment could only be discussed after that term of service was satisfied.
Now I would see this force as just one alternative in a universal draft. I have discussed this before, but I will reiterate. It fits in with my idea of the political platform of the person I would be pleased to vote for. I have long advocated that the privilege of living in America should come with a responsibility of service to America. I believe strongly that every American should be required to give a small portion of their lives in service to our country. I don't think two or three years is unreasonable at all.
As I said, this DRF would be just one alternative. To be sure, many people would see it as the main choice. After all, these would be the respected elite of the rescue world. I think other choices would be a peace corps, both domestic and foreign. There could also be many alternatives for local service in government and in public services in general. Hospitals and libraries come to mind. Perhaps we could also afford an international emergency response force for natural emergencies. This would also be an unarmed force like the domestic one.
There are too many choices to list. The point is, no one should be exempt from universal public service. No matter what their condition, we should be able to find a way that people can serve their country.
I have suggested a term of service between two and three years, depending on the service. Easy duty should require more time. As to when, I previously suggested that the service be performed somewhere between the ages of 17 and 30. I se no reason to change that. If a person has not selected a service and volunteered by age 27, they would be drafted and sent to some service in need of personnel.
Now as to pay. I insist that it should be minimal. This is not a career. It is a term of civic service. The job should provide food, shelter, clothing, health care, and pocket money; nothing more. Now, if a person decided they liked the life and wished to become part of the core cadre, incentives may become an issue. Until then, minimum pay is the rule.
This universal draft and DRF are just two of the planks in
the platform of the person I would be happy to vote for. I will
discuss some of the other planks as time passes. Heck, I have
a couple more years before the political fools have at it again.
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