Idea #4 - Elective national service program.

High-school graduates (or equivalents; GED training/testing will be available to the diploma-less) aged 18 years or older will be encouraged to complete at least 2 years of service to the country, either as a member of the armed services (including Coast Guard and National Guard/Reserve), or as a participant in one of several civilian services. The largest of these civilian groups will be a greatly enhanced and expanded Americorps, with membership numbering in the millions and with responsibilities ranging from hiking trail maintenance to natural disaster support to education and mentoring services.

The benefits & advantages of joining the armed services are too numerous to catalog here, but, suffice to say that, for many,the military will continue to be preferred as a uniquely challenging and rewarding path of national service. Other eligible applicants will choose to join a civilian branch of service, a rewarding decision in its own right. Each enlistee to a civilian service will receive a weekly stipend, food and housing, college credit (classroom time will be a significant component of the services), and plenty of real-world experience.

Membership in either the military or civilian forces will be wholly voluntary, however, as the pool of NSP graduates continues to grow, employment opportunities will become increasing skewed toward those with some NSP experience under their belts, thus, NSP enlistment will become increasing desirable.

Participation in the national service programs will have other, less tangible benefits, as well. Since one major aspect of the domestic civilian programs will be that enlistees MUST serve somewhere other than their home areas, participants will be forced to experience geographical, cultural, and socio-economic situations different from the ones they are accustomed to at home. For example, a civilian NSP member from urban Chicago might find herself maintaining horse trails on federal land in Montana. Or a lacrosse player from Nashville might see himself assigned to help teach math to inner-city children in Baltimore. With any luck, the experience will result in generations of politically active, and socially & culturally aware young people, who are also healthier, more confident, and less afraid of hard work and disappointment.