The Shortcomings of an All-Volunteer Force: A Cost Analysis of Conscription

Abstract

This cost-analysis study explores whether conscription is more or less costly than an all-volunteer force (AVF). It compares the contemporary Armed forces with those of the Vietnam War era. Furthermore, this study seeks to find if conscription would be a valid alternative to the AVF to address recruiting difficulties from a cost perspective. This study utilizes data from numerous sources such as the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), U.S. Comptroller, and Defense Financial Accounting System (DFAS). This study provides a cost model from previously conducted reports from the General Accounting Office (now Government Accountability Office) and Congressional Budget Office (CBO) using additional social criteria such as draft evasion costs and tax deadweight loss. This research observes an increase in the overall cost structure from 1972 to 2024 in categories such as recruiting costs and draft evasion costs. Furthermore, this study finds the opportunity costs of implementing conscription account for a total cost difference of $119B and points to a reestablishment of conscription to be too costly from an economic and social perspective without the existence of a real, present threat.