>>Can we include all elected officials in that plan? Serve one term (two years for congressmen – or congresspersons) and then off to four years in the military and I do not mean the “Guard”!
>
>I'd settle for requiring any elected/selected officials favoring military action to provide his/her of-age children to serve on the front line. BONUS: Any addiction issues the children happen to have would probably be flushed out by the conclusion of boot camp. Then off they go to 'serve'. :-)
>
>Think they would write letters home?
>"Dear Daddy,
> I'm so happy you've decided to let me serve my country by blah, blah, blah.

Steven;

How about after serving the one term the entire family gets shipped off to the military to serve a hitch? No two family members in the same country?

Your comment about "letters home" hit me!

When I was in Basic Training many guys from California got pneumonia including me. I had a temperature of 106.8 and almost did not make it. As I was coming out of the coma I was told, “You passed inspection”! What? I had been unconscious for almost three days! Every morning at 0500 hours they had a white glove inspection at the Airman’s Ward. You GI’ed your area per requirements of the hospital staff. GI brush, Pine Sol, and whatever.

We stood in line each morning for a blood test. The guy in front of me was first. The guy taking the blood sample was new and on OJT (on the job training). He stuck the needle in as far as it would go and broke off the needle deep inside of the guys right arm at the front of the elbow. The guy with the needle in his arm turned white. They took one look at me and said, “Go lie down”! The Air Force discharged the guy as they could not remove the needle. Great medical attention.

One of the guys who was in the ward telephoned his father using the pay phone at the end of the ward. He discussed the conditions we were living under which were not good. A few hours later in walked the father who happened to be a Texas Senator! He was accompanied by the Base Commander and the head of the Medical Staff. Nasty words were spoken and the things the kid complained about were verified and rectified – “immediately if not sooner”! That was a favorite Air Force saying by the way.

As soon as the Senator left the telephone was removed and we were instructed, “There will be no more calls home and no more mail”! Glad everything was “normal” again.

Tom