In the aftermath of the 2007 California wildfires, I wrote an article calling for the reinvigoration of service to our country. My intent in making this call was two fold. First, I believe that individuals who devote a portion of their life to service are lucky to enjoy a life of greater perspective then those who choose not to serve. Second, I believe that our country needs the benefits of service now more than ever before.

A national mandate for service will bear a more compassionate and involved electorate willing to shoulder the heavy loads in good times or bad. More importantly, a national mandate for service will refocus our national conscience on the building blocks of the American way of life—our fellow man; the common man.

Deep down, I believe that each and every American has the inalienable right to choose his own path in this world. However, I know that we would be a more fulfilled country if we each gave a piece of ourselves up to the greater good. To that end, I am forsaking my free choice roots in favor of a more socialistic solution: I believe that it is time for our country to implement a national draft.

It slightly pains me to say this because I also believe that an all volunteer military force is superior to a draft force. With that said, the stakes are too high for our country to continue to slide into an overindulgence coma. Taking all of this into account I believe each 18-year-old American should be given two options.

Option 1: Serve a two-year stint in the military. If you choose to serve your time as enlisted you join at age eighteen, but if you decide to become an officer you join following graduation from college, or by the age of 24 if you fail to achieve your degree.

Option 2: Would you rather attend college or object to serving in the military? No problem, serve our country in another way- as a teacher or EMT, etc. In lieu of two years in the military, Americans could serve those years in the Peace Corps, National Forest Service, or any other national service organization, as a full-time employee or as part-time volunteer. Character is not exclusively built by holding a rifle; it is attained through the precepts of self-sacrifice in any forum. Further, as the wildfires showed us, it is arguable that America needs serving citizens at home even more than abroad.

The final tally of implementing a service draft in America is multi-pronged. First, the young citizens of the US will be better prepared for their future after serving a couple of years in service. Many of the young people I see today are rudderless and could use the discipline, training, and experience one gets from serving in a structured organization that has a mission and goals. Second, our country will have the type of manpower necessary to adequately deal with a world or national crisis in the future. But most importantly, implementing a national service draft would stave off further complacency and refocus our individual perspectives on serving rather than being served.

In order to recommit our nation to greatness we have to create a population that will contribute to greatness instead of simply demanding it.