Actor and comedian Rob Schneider is calling on the United States to reinstate a military draft as part of a public appeal for Americans to return to traditional values.
In a lengthy social media post on March 27, the 62-year-old urged citizens to complete two years of national service, amid heightened geopolitical tensions involving the United States and Iran.
“We must once again recommit ourselves to one Nation under God, indivisible,” he wrote in a post on X. “Therefore, we must restore the military draft for our Nation’s young people.”
“Each and every American, at eighteen years of age, must serve two years of military service. They could also choose to serve part of that time overseas or in country in a volunteer capacity.”
Schneider, who has no military record, highlighted the opportunities and “unparalleled freedoms” presented to American citizens should not come without a cost.
“By protecting and preserving these Freedoms, young people, regardless of race, creed or religion will be united in service to their country and just as importantly, to each other,” he wrote.
“Many Nations around the world require their young citizens to serve their country,” he continued. “Until recently, our Nation did as well.
“This would serve many purposes in our society; We would have all of our young men and women put into a rigorous physical training course that they could use for the rest of their lives, we would always have a standing army ready at all times including for domestic problems like natural disasters.”
While the U.S. has not implemented a military draft since 1972 during the Vietnam War, Schneider said he hopes his proposal will encourage national unity and foster responsibility among the younger generation.
“Very importantly, we would have in service every segment of our society represented so that our elected officials would be more hesitant and not cavalier about sending their own sons and daughters off to a faraway war unless it was truly in our Nation’s interests,” he added.
“To the young people of America, this is your country and your future,” he concluded. “We will leave this great and Free Nation in your good hands for your children and for your children’s children.”
Schneider, best known for his comedies “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo,” “The Benchwarmers,” “Grown Ups” and others, has become a vocal proponent of conservative political causes over the years.
In 2023, he endorsed then-independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr. in the presidential election, before backing then-candidate Donald Trump when Kennedy suspended his campaign.
