Posted on Apr 27, 2016
House panel votes to make women register for the draft
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Women will have to register with the Selective Service and would be eligible to be drafted in the military, under a provision narrowly approved by a House panel on Wednesday.
The proposal passed the House Armed Services Committee without support from its sponsor, Iraq War veteran Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., who introduced the measure as a way to force congressional conversation about the role of women in the military.
But several Republicans broke ranks with their committee counterparts to support the idea of drafting women for military service, until now a possibility solely reserved for men.
Under current law, all men ages 18 to 26 are required to register for possible involuntary military service with the Selective Service System. Women have always been exempt, and past legal challenges have pointed to restrictions placed on their military service as a reason for their exclusion.
But earlier this year, Defense Secretary Ash Carter opened all military jobs to women, negating that argument.
Hunter said the move made the Selective Service setup “sexist” and said he was unwilling to leave the draft issue up to the White House or Pentagon. But he also made clear he opposed the idea of adding women to draft lists.
Others disagreed, including Nevada’s Rep Joe Heck, New York Rep. Chris Gibson and Arizona Rep. Martha McSally, fellow Republicans and Iraq War veterans. McSally argued that if a draft was needed, women could serve any number of military roles, including but not exclusive to infantry jobs.
The vote came the same day Army officials announced that Capt. Kristen Griest, one of the first women to earn a Ranger tab, will becoming the Army’s first female infantry officer.
Defense Department leaders have already backed the idea of adding women to the draft, while also emphasizing they do not see any scenario where a draft will actually happen. No Americans have been pressed into involuntary military service since the last draft ended in 1973.
Lawmakers have also included in the legislative language requiring a full review of the Selective Service System and possible “alternatives” to the current system.
The agency's activities cost taxpayers roughly $23 million each year, and a 2012 Government Accountability Office report questioned whether the system could even provide a list of draftees to the Defense Department if called upon to do so.
Senate lawmakers must sign off on the draft review and changes before they can be sent to the president to become law. The authorization bill isn’t expected to be finalized by Congress until this fall.
The proposal passed the House Armed Services Committee without support from its sponsor, Iraq War veteran Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., who introduced the measure as a way to force congressional conversation about the role of women in the military.
But several Republicans broke ranks with their committee counterparts to support the idea of drafting women for military service, until now a possibility solely reserved for men.
Under current law, all men ages 18 to 26 are required to register for possible involuntary military service with the Selective Service System. Women have always been exempt, and past legal challenges have pointed to restrictions placed on their military service as a reason for their exclusion.
But earlier this year, Defense Secretary Ash Carter opened all military jobs to women, negating that argument.
Hunter said the move made the Selective Service setup “sexist” and said he was unwilling to leave the draft issue up to the White House or Pentagon. But he also made clear he opposed the idea of adding women to draft lists.
Others disagreed, including Nevada’s Rep Joe Heck, New York Rep. Chris Gibson and Arizona Rep. Martha McSally, fellow Republicans and Iraq War veterans. McSally argued that if a draft was needed, women could serve any number of military roles, including but not exclusive to infantry jobs.
The vote came the same day Army officials announced that Capt. Kristen Griest, one of the first women to earn a Ranger tab, will becoming the Army’s first female infantry officer.
Defense Department leaders have already backed the idea of adding women to the draft, while also emphasizing they do not see any scenario where a draft will actually happen. No Americans have been pressed into involuntary military service since the last draft ended in 1973.
Lawmakers have also included in the legislative language requiring a full review of the Selective Service System and possible “alternatives” to the current system.
The agency's activities cost taxpayers roughly $23 million each year, and a 2012 Government Accountability Office report questioned whether the system could even provide a list of draftees to the Defense Department if called upon to do so.
Senate lawmakers must sign off on the draft review and changes before they can be sent to the president to become law. The authorization bill isn’t expected to be finalized by Congress until this fall.
House panel votes to make women register for the draft
Posted from armytimes.comPosted in these groups: 
Congress
Women in the Military
Congress Women in the Military
Posted >1 y ago
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Thanks for sharing the news SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. While I have mixed opinions about the selective service drafting women for combat , I believe it is fair that all budding grown ups register for the selective service system. In one sense this will make all young people more thoughtful and accountable. I was angry when I heard earlier proposals to do away with selective service registration.
I hope we never have another world war but the world has been becoming more dangerous instead of less dangerous.
I hope we never have another world war but the world has been becoming more dangerous instead of less dangerous.
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I guess for all the PC equality folks out there that this makes perfect sense.
From a practical standpoint it means nothing. We have had an all volunteer Army since 1974? (correct my date if inaccurate) and unless we are in WWIII, we will never have other than an all volunteer Army. Look at the statistics that Army leaders are using today "less than 30% of the population meets the enlistment criteria. Obesity, mental health issues, other medical issues and criminal records make 70% of our nations youth unqualified for service." Some have said that our inability to have a qualified pool of volunteers is a national security issues (Google it) and may impact readiness for years to come. Now you want to "force men and women into involuntary service for something that the had no intention of ever doing, to make a political statement about equality."
The legal issues will take years to sort out, barring only common sense from being the deciding issue.
From a practical standpoint it means nothing. We have had an all volunteer Army since 1974? (correct my date if inaccurate) and unless we are in WWIII, we will never have other than an all volunteer Army. Look at the statistics that Army leaders are using today "less than 30% of the population meets the enlistment criteria. Obesity, mental health issues, other medical issues and criminal records make 70% of our nations youth unqualified for service." Some have said that our inability to have a qualified pool of volunteers is a national security issues (Google it) and may impact readiness for years to come. Now you want to "force men and women into involuntary service for something that the had no intention of ever doing, to make a political statement about equality."
The legal issues will take years to sort out, barring only common sense from being the deciding issue.
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SGT Jess Daniels
I'm on the fence with this one. I feel, why would it only be men for selective service when we serve as well? So, I agree women should be on there as well.The draft was used in Vietnam because they did not have enough troops. So, basically it was like a safety net. I think it should stay in place because the future is uncertain with all this crap going on. Now, only 30% meet enlistment criteria and only 7% serve. So, yeah I feel comfortable with the safety net in my opinion.
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SFC Chris Crossley
Jess I think that fact that most people overlook is that the Service opened combat Arms to women, and thus far there have been very few takers. The draft was designed to get lots of combat troops into the fight. Extending that argument, drafting women would force them to join combat arms units, something that the vast majority of females currently serving have absolutely no desire to join.
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SGT Jess Daniels
True, but I think that might change here soon. Besides, when they did draft the men, they were put in the MOS that was needed, and a lot of these men did not desire to be in period. So, in my opinion, since these positions are now open to females, what's good enough for the men is good enough for women. They want equality, then this is something they will have to do like the rest of them. If a man can be made to spill his blood for his country, then so can a women.
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Two things:
#1 The draft is good for the nation when ever it needs people quickly (either it's 1K or 100K) it is a means to protect the Nation.
#2 In the name of Equality the Draft needs to be inclusive and not discriminate via sex or type of gender. Everyone with a Social Security Number should be included.
#1 The draft is good for the nation when ever it needs people quickly (either it's 1K or 100K) it is a means to protect the Nation.
#2 In the name of Equality the Draft needs to be inclusive and not discriminate via sex or type of gender. Everyone with a Social Security Number should be included.
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