Actually, Soulfilms, as an ex-army dude, my boyfriend is of the same mind as you are. Not necessarily the boot camp part, but he thinks that everyone should have to serve their country in some way for two years of their life.

Be it in an office somewhere, or out in an Army fort, or on a ship, or whatever, he feels that it would be quite an eye opener to many people in this country and hopefully also impress on them a stronger sense of... I don't know what to call it - pride? loyalty? patriotism? or maybe responsibility?

I suppose that's all very idealistic, but I don't think it's that bad an idea. And most Mormon kids do a year or two of volunteering as soon as they graduate high school. They love it and it's really important to them - they plan it for years ahead of time.