notyourdraft

It's Not Your Father's Draft!

by J. E. McNeil

In December of 2001 a bill was introduced in Congress to reinstate

a military draft for all male citizens and residents.

While there is little reason to think this bill will even get out

of committee, much less pass into law, it poses a broader threat.

The Selective Service doesn't like it. It would require Selective

Service to scrap a decades worth of planning for what it believed

would be a fair draft system for something new.

The Military doesn't like it. The Pentagon currently objects to

letting people out before their scheduled release date because of

the high cost of training military personnel. This proposed draft

would force everyone in for a period of training, and after their 1

year obligation they would get out with no obligation to return to

the military.

The Conscientious Objectors don't like it. It purports to recognize

the rights of COs by providing for training without weapons, but

many COs object to military training of any kind and would prefer

jail to time in a military uniform.

In spite of this formidable opposition, the bill is a cause for

concern. First and foremost, the bill opens the door to

"legitimate" discussion of the reinstitution of a draft and, in

particular, a draft law with provisions that might well be saleable

on Capitol Hill even if the Military, Selective Service and COs

object. Because this draft would be different. It would not be a

draft intended to address a military personnel shortfall, but a

draft to indoctrinate young men and women into military culture.

This bill, then, changes the debate in Congress surrounding

Selective Service. Before the Fall of 2001 no one expected that

resumption of the draft was even a remote possibility. There was no

pending legislation that would bring back the draft, and there

hadn't been for several years. Now that this has been put on the

table, it opens the possibility of someone proposing a "more

reasonable" solution, that could in fact bring back some form of

conscription in this country--especially conscription intended to

"teach" youth about their "patriotic duty."

Current Legislation

The Universal Military Training and Service Act of 2001, H.R. 3598,

introduced by Rep. Smith (MI) and Rep. Weldon (PA), would require

all male citizens and residents to be conscripted into the military

for a one year period between their 18th and 22nd birthdays. There

would be few deferments and exemptions.

Conscientious Objectors would be required to go through basic

training in the military, although they would be exempt from

weapons training. After military training they could be reassigned

to perform civilian service. Service would not be required for

women, but for the first time in US history they would be allowed

to register and volunteer through the conscription system. The

maximum pay for draftees would be 35% of the minimum pay currently

provided for new recruits.

This bill would create problems for conscientious objectors similar

to the oppressive practices of the World War I draft. Although some

COs may be willing to participate in non-combatant training, others

would refuse and be jailed, creating a backlog of cases.

Implementing a draft in this manner for COs would unduly burden the

Selection Service System which is mandated to carry out the

proposed provisions. The inclusion of women in this system crosses

a line that makes their inclusion in the draft more likely in the

future. The extremely low pay amounts to slave labor. Furthermore,

according to the Pentagon's own analysis, a draft is not necessary.

While this bill is so extreme that it's not likely to go very far,

keep in mind that only one Member of Congress voted against

military action in the Fall of 2001. Congress has allowed an

erosion of civil liberties that would have been unthinkable a few

months ago. In these times unusual things happen. At the very

least, this changes the current discussion concerning the possible

return to the draft. It opens the possibility of a "more

reasonable" proposal getting through Congress.

Bill Highlights

* Establishes a draft: Mandatory military service for men

between the ages of 18 and 22 years.

* Permits women between the ages of 18 and 22 years to volunteer

for enlistment.

* The military service required would include basic training and

education for 6-12 months.

* High school drop-outs would be assisted in earning a high

school equivalency diploma and would be required to complete

an additional 6 months of military training.

* Permits transfer to national and community service programs

after completion of initial military training.

* Deferments would be available for extreme hardship or mental

or physical disability.

* High school students would have their induction postponed

until they complete their studies, leave school, or turn 20,

whichever happens first.

* Exemptions would be available for current members of the

military (or those who have served 6 months in active duty)

and cadets or midshipmen in the service academies.

* Conscientious objectors would be required to participate in

basic military training and education that does not include a

combatant component and may be later transferred to a national

service program.

* Very low pay for draftees. (approx. $340/ month maximum)

Action Needed

The bill was introduced on December 20, 2001 and assigned to the

House Armed Services Committee (Chair, Rep. Bob Stump, (R-Ariz.)).

Contact your representative and urge him or her not to sign on as a

co-sponsor for H.R. 3598 and to pressure their colleagues who sit

on the House Armed Services Committee to defeat the bill in

committee. Calls are especially needed to members of the Armed

Services Committee with the message to let H.R. 3598 die in

committee. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and

ask for your representative.

About the Author

J. E. McNeil is the Executive Director of the Center on Conscience

& War, based in Washington, DC. She can be reached at

nisbco@igc.org.

For more information on the bill and efforts to defeat it see the

Center's web site at www.nisbco.org.