Mandatory National Service

Gary L. Yates
February 2002

In President Bush’s first State of the Union speech on January 29, he called for expanding and improving AmeriCorps, our nation’s national service program, by recruiting more than 200,000 new volunteers. He also promised to revitalize the Peace Corps by doubling its membership over the next five years. 

Many Americans in our post-September 11 world are looking for ways to contribute to our national strength and build our sense of unity. I can think of no better way to instill patriotism and appreciation for our national diversity than through these national service programs. But the idea of national service for young adults between high school graduation and college and careers has another, often overlooked, benefit: it helps to reduce crime and violence.

As president and CEO of one of California’s largest health foundations, I have long been concerned about and active in violence prevention efforts. Therefore, I think President Bush’s proposal is a tremendous first step. But I think we should go further and consider mandatory national service for all U.S. citizens when they reach 18 years of age. This way we would build strong citizens and provide opportunities for improving lives, which is the surest way to reduce crime. 

In crime prevention we focus on “critical hours” and “critical years.” The critical hours when most youth crimes occur are between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. We have made strides in addressing this problem with after-school programs that keep kids involved and busy before adult supervision arrives at home. Mandatory national service would address the “critical years” problem, the after-school years between 18 and 24 when men and women are more likely to be the victims or perpetrators of crimes than at any other time in their lives.

These are the years when young adults often lose the support they had from schools, after-school programs and the community. The Criminal Justice Statistics Center reports that this age group suffers from and commits the most homicides by firearms. We owe it to our young adults to keep them productive and safe from violence. 

Today AmeriCorps engages more than 50,000 Americans in intensive, results-oriented service each year. Jose Hernandez, of South Central Los Angeles, is a good example of how it changes lives. Growing up, Jose attended the Bresee Foundation’s after-school program where he participated in positive recreational, cultural and community activities. When Jose graduated from high school, he watched many young people in his neighborhood turn to gangs and end up dead or in jail. Jose knew he wanted more and a Bresee worker recommended AmeriCorps.

There, Jose served a year working at an after school program, learning community building and communication skills. Today, three years after his AmeriCorps year, Jose is an outreach worker in his community. Jose doesn’t know where he would have ended up without AmeriCorps and credits the program for teaching him to help himself as he learned how to help others.

Today’s economy makes the case for national service programs even stronger. California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) reported that the unemployment rate for November 2001 was six percent, the highest unemployment rate in the state since September 1998. For the 23 percent of California young adults without a high school diploma and 44 percent who do not enter college immediately after high school, this job market will make it more difficult for them to find meaningful employment.

Can you imagine if every youth in California could spend a year learning about themselves and their communities and gaining job skills in the process? As Father Greg Boyle of Los Angeles-based Homeboy Industries so eloquently puts it, “Nothing stops a bullet like a job.”

Some may question a mandatory national service for youth. Why not keep it voluntary? Perhaps the answer lies in what people do not appear to be doing amid the brisk sales of U.S. flags. Have we seen reports showing dramatic increases in voter registration or military enlistments? I haven't. I believe this is because many of our youth - who have grown into today's adults - have missed out on the experience of giving back to their country. This may explain why many don't feel any need to channel their patriotism into volunteerism or make voting a life-long commitment.

I believe mandatory national service would provide a way for the youth of this nation to give something back for the freedoms they enjoy and to work side-by-side with other young Americans for a common national purpose. The result would be a better understanding of the strength of our diversity and increased participation in the voting booth. For some, the military may be an option, as it was for me; for others the ability to work in a nursing home, recreation facility or day care center may be a life-altering experience. The benefits will surely be safer, healthier and more civicly engaged youth and adults.

Gary L. Yates is president and chief executive officer of The California Wellness Foundation, a long-time funder in violence prevention.