Posted on Nov 10, 2013

Should women of military age now be required to register for the Selective Service Program (Draft)?

28.6K

399

197

With the fight for equality in the military and the recent decision by the Army to open combat arms MOS's to women in the Army, being so much in the news and discussion, do you think that women of the required Selective Service age group should be made to register as their male counterparts are?

Posted in these groups: Armedforces

Military service Images

Women in the Military

Posted 12 y ago

Follow this discussion

Responses: 87

Show most popular responses

1LT Richard C.

Posted >1 y ago

Equal rights means equal responsibility.

(2)

Comment

(0)

LTC (Join to see)

Posted 11 y ago

If it is going to continue to be maintained then yes, women should be included.

(2)

Comment

(0)

CPT Zachary Brooks

Posted 11 y ago

They want to be equal? Let them be equal!

Sign em up I say.

(2)

Comment

(0)

SSgt (Join to see)

Posted 11 y ago

I believe so. Selective service should be mandatory for all citizens in my opinion.

(2)

Comment

(0)

Transferred from duplicate topic

SFC (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

Honestly just my opinion, by the time a female is old enough to be considered military age it is too late to be discussing what is fair based on gender. It's too late for males as well. From birth to 18 society funnels men and women into gender appropriate categories. Still this day in age we do it. It's no surprise that this hot topic of gender equality is so controversial. I believe that maybe a law such as this one being revised may actually be useful to gender integration in the future. If a couple have a daughter and the law says that when she turns military age she could be drafted it might change the way society raise their children. It wouldn't be a overnight change but there might be a noticeable skip in the record per say. Two or three years in the military at the beginning of adulthood would be beneficial to many people. Again, JMHO.

(2)

Comment

(0)

SFC (Join to see)

12 y

Very good point SFC Warden.

(0)

1SG (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

Since women are now in combat arms it only makes sense that women should be required to register for Selective Service as their male counterparts are. Prior to that ruling I would of said no. But as it stands today I think they should.

(2)

Comment

(0)

SSG Ralph Watkins

Posted 12 y ago

I would like to agree to leave Selective Service alone for now.  I do believe that a federal service of sorts should be offered but not only just military.  We have so many problems with our infrastructure in this country.  Offer free college tuition to those who enter federal service for 2 years.  Offer military service, overseas medical or recovery assistance, or homeland rebuilding of roads, bridges, rundown schools, etc.  Give the kids a sense of belonging to America, not sponging off of it.

(2)

Comment

(0)

SFC (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

Absolutely, I think everyone should. There are all these women in the country that want equal rights, well I say give it to them and let them register. I love the Army and if I had the chance to go back and enlist at 17 I would do it again.

(2)

Comment

(0)

SSG V. Michelle Woods

12 y

Ahhh why can't I find "all these women"? People keep referencing "all these women" and yet can't tell me who they are. It's quite discouraging :(

(0)

Cpl Ray Fernandez

Posted 12 y ago

I would welcome it, we have a long history of drawing down our military, it's only been that after World War II that we maintained a larger peacetime force. If we are to be truly equal and open up combat MOSs to women, we should allow women to register. Many have argued that we don't even need the Selective Service anymore, but I think that having the system in place and not having to use it, is much better than needing it and not having it available. If we require one gender and not the other what does it say about how we value both genders? Does it mean that we value the lives of males less than that of females? If females are to given the same equal opportunities, then we must also treat them as equals by requiring them to face the same risks and requirements that we as males have faced. War is a terrible thing and to place the risks and responsibilities equally on both genders would likely reduce the willingness that some politicians use to commit military forces to missions that are poorly defined.

(2)

Comment

(0)

CW2 (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

I took the time to read almost all the posts and I offer this...

The entire program should be thrown out. The ALL-Volunteer army is a much better army if you ask me. I am not sure what the minimum score is to join the Army but I have heard a few males wanting to join that could not score that minimum. If you want to serve your Country "Nothing" should be able to stop you.

On to the rest of my answer... I have Daughter's, a Sister and a Wife. I NEVER want ANYONE to be in the position to legally be able to make them do anything they do not want to do. The Army is still learning how to deal with Women in the Military and that is why personnel from General's all the way down to E-1's are being kicked out for doing dumb stuff to OUR Women in Military that they would not want done to their own Family members. The Army has gone so far as to add the bullets on OER's and NCOER's because SOME people just cant get it right. In the spirit of Equality =)... I don't want my Brother's, Son's or Grand-Son's forced to join either.

It may not be popular but I have served 20+ years in the Army and that is just my Humble opinion.

A Husband, Father & Brother,

(2)

Comment

(0)

SFC (Join to see)

12 y

Well said Chief. Personally, I agree, the whole draft system should be thrown out. I do see both sides of the actual question though. I try to be objective when considering it. I think that, after much reflection, I believe that if the draft system is to stay in place and women are going to be allowed to serve in combat arms MOS that ALL military aged persons should be required to register. Just my own personal thoughts. I still am in agreement that the draft should be done away with permanently though.

(1)

(0)

SGT(P) (Join to see)

12 y

If we're going to have a draft, we might as well include women in it. There's no reason not to, considering they can now be combat MOS personnel. Equal rights, right?

(1)

(0)

Cpl Ray Fernandez

12 y

Sir, if we are to have a nation of equals the burden must be shared equally not just the positives. I'm sure nobody wants to worry about the possiblity of their children of either gender being drafted into service. We have been lucky that there has not been a need in the last 40 years to reinstate a draft. If we were to be faced with a large threat that would put us on a war footing that we have yet to experience since World War II (hopefully we will never face anything anywhere near as costly in lives and property in our future), I think we would be better served by having the system in place to draft men and women rather than just having to create it all over again. It's a terrible thing but like most polarizing subjects it's better to have the capability and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

(1)

(0)

CW2 (Join to see)

12 y

"A Nation of Equals.... MUST share the Positive and the Burdens" I really like that....

The problem during the draft is the people who had a way to get themselves or their children out of the draft, did just that. I agree with getting rid of the entire system, In an effort to truly ensure it is equal.

I don't think we should EVER entertain the idea of a draft in the future. The people that run our Nation should stop cutting away at the military because if we do end up in the situation that Cpl Fernandez talks about.... Drafting a ton of people will not make our military well trained or as effective as we have been without the Draft.

How many Hasan K. Akbar's would we be facing if we went back to making people serve against their will? I don't think making people serve that do not want to serve would help us down range considering how many people do not trust our Government or the Military.

(1)

(0)

Should women of military age now be required to register for the Selective Service Program (Draft)?

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.