The American Foreign Legion?

I must say, I don't really get the fuss behind express citizenship for those who serve in the armed forces. Other countries have similar programs, and it provides benefits for both the United States as well as the foreigner that wants citizenship. The article plays devil's advocate by pointing out that this offer goes too far and cheapens the sacrifice and duty that the armed forces once stood for. But the development of an all-volunteer army has its consequences. While it may have worked fine during the years of the cold-war and post cold war peacetime forces, now that the U.S. is engaged in combat the forces have found themselves drained and dependent on reserve services.

It also doesn't help that the war is not popular. The army has become dependent on sales tactics to attract servicemen. Branding the military isn't easy, which is why experts were brought in when they initially went all-volunteer. I think the all-volunteer army was an inevitable part of the evolution of modern warfare. Like Nixon said, the threat of nuclear war has changed to face of the conventional battlefield. Skirmishes and small scale special forces dominate the physical battlefield. This in combination with intelligence gathering defines modern warfare.

I think the benefits of mandatory service are not unlike those which could just be obtained by volunteering to serve in the armed forces. The best reason I could see for mandatory service would simply be fairness. But as long as good wages and benefits remain, a volunteer service is the best way to go. It ensures that the majority of the members want to be there, or at least weren't forced into it (though it has been argued that the poor and unskilled are indirectly pushed toward service). Volunteer service also provides for more extensive training and professional soldiers. This means less casualties and mistakes on the battlefield.