In this TIME essay, Elliot Ackerman argues that restoring a limited military draft could reconnect Americans to the costs of war and make prolonged conflicts politically harder to sustain.

The Cost of an All-Volunteer Force

Ackerman reflects on visiting Arlington National Cemetery with his children and on a generation now eligible to fight in wars older than they are. He argues that the burden of post-9/11 conflict has fallen on a small share of the population while most Americans remain detached from its human and financial costs.

A Draft as Democratic Restraint

Rather than increasing militarism, Ackerman contends that conscription could place it on a leash. When citizens and influential families face the possibility of military service, decisions about war become more urgent, visible, and politically consequential.

A Reverse-Engineered Draft

The essay proposes a limited draft that would supplement, not replace, the professional force. Ackerman suggests short enlistments, combat-arms assignments, equal eligibility for women, and a system designed to prevent wealthy families from avoiding service.

Service, Equality, and Accountability

A modern draft could function as a societal leveler, strengthen civic responsibility, and narrow the civil-military divide. Most importantly, Ackerman argues, it would force Americans to confront the consequences of sending troops into war.

Read the Original Essay

Read “Why Bringing Back the Draft Could Stop America’s Forever Wars” at TIME →