William L. Hauser, a retired U.S. Army colonel, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a fellow of the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society, says “Bring back the draft,” and partly for its favorable social consequences.

The benefits of universal national service, however, far outweigh these resolvable objections. Aside from the strictly military advantages — larger and better-educated armed forces — there would be a number of positive social consequences. Conscription will enable the forces to reflect the full spectrum of American pluralism, in terms of both socioeconomic classes and racial/ethnic groups. It is unacceptable that less than 1 percent of the country’s eligible population serves in the armed forces, with almost no war-relevant sacrifice being asked from the rest of society. It ought to be axiomatic that the hardships and dangers of military service be more widely shared.

Thanks to Charles Burris for the FYI.